Burnie numeracy program rolls out statewide

The initiative of one Burnie High School teacher to improve students' numeracy levels will be rolled out to select locations across the state next year.

Assistant Principal Josh Salter is the project lead for Burnie Counts, which will be renamed Tasmania Counts, thanks to $795,000 from the Tasmanian Community Fund.

"I think it's really powerful if we can make an impact on students in Tasmania by improving numeracy, family engagement, community engagement and making that transition from primary to secondary easier, which are all the key pillars of our program," Mr Salter said.

"I think it's fantastic if we can help students along the way."

Principal James Thompson said the school was extremely proud that the project was expanding.

"More importantly, we want to share the good work," he said.

"I think a lot of the time schools work in isolation but there are a lot of great things that go on in schools and for us to have the opportunity to share that work with others is great.”

Mr Thomson said the Grattan Institute had released a report about what needs to be done in mathematics to improve student outcomes.

"They talked about maths hubs, which see certain schools going to other schools that are doing things particularly well to learn off them as a living, breathing professional learning rather than going to someone offsite that might not be in school land as such,” he said.

"Those networks and that type of initiatives are something really new to DECYP (Department for Education, Children and Young People)."

Tasmanian Community Fund Chairperson Kym Goodes said there had been a noticeable improvement in students' numeracy levels since funding was first provided to Burnie High School in 2021.

"In the 2024 grade nine numeracy NAPLAN results, 89 per cent of students achieved medium to high growth, a significant improvement compared to the rest of Tasmania, which sat at 75 per cent," she said.

"Tasmania Counts will help students build a strong foundation in maths, fostering a positive attitude towards learning and this attitude will help students transition to high school and will continue to help them thrive in education.

"The program is about more than maths; it's about building a student's and their family's belief in themselves.

“This enhances their school engagement, participation and longer-term aspirations."