Literacy is not a matter of luck, postcode or chance; it’s a matter of equity, access and social justice.

In this episode of Magnify Matters, Distinguished Professor Pamela Snow, one of Australia’s leading voices in literacy, language and the science of learning, joins Tim Edwards (Catholic Education Sandhurst Assistant Director: Learning and Teaching) for a conversation about what it takes to ensure every child learns to read well.

Pam reflects on the personal, professional and research journey that has shaped her national leadership in literacy, from speech pathology and brain injury rehabilitation to her advocacy for evidence-informed reading instruction and the establishment of La Trobe University’s SOLAR Lab.

As a trusted contributor to early Magnify Sandhurst conversations, Pam helps connect decades of research to the lived realities of classrooms, teachers and systems working to lift learning outcomes for every student.

In this episode, Tim and Pam explore:

• Why learning to read is a social justice issue, not an individual outcome.
• What cognitive science tells us about how children learn to read and why the debate went on for so long.
• Why the first three years of school matter more than any later intervention.
• How strong Tier 1 instruction supports both learning and wellbeing.
• The role of speech pathologists and interdisciplinary collaboration in schools.
• Why lifting teacher expertise lifts the profession itself.

Whether you’re teaching in the early years, leading a school, shaping system-wide improvement or supporting learning at home, this episode offers clear principles, grounded insight and a strong case for doing fewer things — better — for every learner.

Now stay with us as we magnify what truly matters in education.

Mentioned in this episode

• Professor Pamela Snow
• The Snow Report
• The Science of Language and Reading (SOLAR) Lab
• Magnify Sandhurst
• Catholic Education Sandhurst

Catholic Education Sandhurst rolled out Magnify Sandhurst, an evidence-informed, science of learning school improvement initiative, to its 51 Catholic schools across the Sandhurst Diocese at the beginning of 2025. Magnify Sandhurst focuses on how the brain learns, how literacy is effectively taught, uses a low variance, knowledge-rich curriculum and the creation of positive classrooms. Our practice is calm, predictable, and repeatable to maximise learning time in all classrooms. Magnify Sandhurst is deliberately bold and wide-ranging, generating whole-of-system improvement.

Catholic Education Sandhurst is home to 51 Catholic schools across rural and regional Victoria, educating more than 15,490 students. We partner with schools, students and families to provide innovation and excellence in education, inspired by the Catholic story.

Visit www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and

Neuroscientist and educator Dr Jared Cooney Horvath returns to Magnify Matters for a fast, practical check-in on what lifts learning from knowledge-rich curriculum and whole-class instruction to cutting through the noise on EdTech.

In conversation with Tim Edwards (Catholic Education Sandhurst, Assistant Director: Learning & Teaching), Jared reflects on Sandhurst’s momentum since his three-day intensive earlier this year, and also previews his new book The Digital Delusion including that now-famous Hugh Grant blurb.

Together, Tim and Jared explore:

• What knowledge-rich, low-variance looks like in real classrooms
• Why whole-class instruction builds empathy, synchrony and deeper understanding
• How background knowledge speeds new learning and boosts creativity
• Practical ways to align teachers, students and parents around the same learning language
• Where EdTech helps, where it harms, and how to keep people at the centre
• What’s next for Magnify Sandhurst in 2026.

Whether you’re in the classroom or leading a school, this episode offers clear principles, memorable stories and next steps you can use tomorrow.

Now join us as we magnify what truly matters in education.

Mentioned in this episode

• Magnify Sandhurst
• Catholic Education Sandhurst
• LME Global
• The Digital Delusion

Dr Jared Cooney Horvath is a cognitive neuroscientist and educator with expertise in human learning, memory, and brain stimulation. He is the co-founder of LME Global, a company dedicated to bringing the Science of Learning to schools and learning communities worldwide. Jared has published four books, including the bestseller 'Stop Talking, Start Influencing', and has been featured in The New York Times, WIRED, and The Economist. Jared is passionate about bridging the gap between laboratory research and classroom practice, helping teachers and students achieve better outcomes through applied brain science.

Catholic Education Sandhurst rolled out Magnify Sandhurst, an evidence-informed, science of learning school improvement initiative, to its 51 Catholic schools across the Sandhurst Diocese at the beginning of 2025. Magnify Sandhurst focuses on how the brain learns, how literacy is effectively taught, uses a low variance, knowledge-rich curriculum and the creation of positive classrooms. Our practice is calm, predictable, and repeatable to maximise learning time in all classrooms. Magnify Sandhurst is deliberately bold and wide-ranging, generating whole-of-system improvement.

Catholic Education Sandhurst is home to 51 Catholic schools across rural and regional Victoria, educating more than 15,490 students. We partner with schools, students and families to provide innovation and excellence in education, inspired by the Catholic story.

Visit www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and

Welcome back to Season 2 of Magnify Matters, as we explore what’s next for teachers and leaders as Magnify Sandhurst moves from launch to sustained impact.

In this episode, Kate Fogarty (Catholic Education Sandhurst Executive Director)and Tim Edwards (Catholic Education Sandhurst, Assistant Director: Learning and Teaching) look back on a big year and set the course for what’s next in Magnify Sandhurst.

From UK insights to local action, this episode maps how we "go hard, go early" and go together in 2026.

Together, Tim and Kate explore:

• What we learned from visiting high-performing UK trusts
• Why early identification and intervention matter
• Writing, spelling and literacy priorities for 2026
• Expanding Ochre beyond maths into science and strengthening a knowledge-rich pathway into secondary
• What's ahead in 2026 including syste, wide oral language screening, a tiered wellbeing curriculum and explicit culture statement for Catholic Education Sandhurst.

Whether you’re in the classroom or leading a school, season two sets out the next steps for lifting learning across the Sandhurst Diocese.

Now join us as we magnify what truly matters in education.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Magnify Sandhurst
• Catholic Education Sandhurst
• Classroom Mastery
• Knowledge Society
• Learning Made Easy
• Steplab
• Ochre
• AERO reports

Catholic Education Sandhurst rolled out Magnify Sandhurst, an evidence-informed, science of learning school improvement initiative, to its 51 Catholic schools across the Sandhurst Diocese at the beginning of 2025. Magnify Sandhurst focuses on how the brain learns, how literacy is effectively taught, uses a low variance, knowledge-rich curriculum and the creation of positive classrooms. Our practice is calm, predictable, and repeatable to maximise learning time in all classrooms. Magnify Sandhurst is deliberately bold and wide-ranging, generating whole-of-system improvement.

Catholic Education Sandhurst is home to 51 Catholic schools across Central and North Eastern Victoria, educating 15,490 students. We partner with schools, students and families to provide innovation and excellence in education, inspired by the Catholic story.

Visit www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.