Temora Public School is small, but its big heart is turning heads around the state.

The Riverina school has about 250 students, but its excellent focus on student wellbeing has drawn the attention of the Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation (CESE).

Evidence shows that feeling like you belong at your school is crucial, but this all-important value declined internationally after COVID.

“Students who say they feel like they belong at school also tend to have higher attendance and learning outcomes, so a focus on building belonging can have lots of benefits”, said CESE Executive Director, Jennifer Buckingham.

Erin Pike has taught at Temora Public School for 17 years, becoming principal during the pandemic. She was concerned to see the school’s sense of belonging score fall to 75 per cent according to Tell Them From Me data.

Five years on, and Temora has turned the tide and registered a score of 96 per cent for the vital indicator in the 2025 NSW Public Schools Student Survey.

The collective strategies of Ms Pike and school staff is showcased in CESE's latest What Works Best suite of publications.

“If there is a drop in sense of belonging, it is a drop of students wanting to be here, and that is concerning,” Ms Pike said.

Staff collectively resolved to seek the honest views of students, families and the community

“We put a lot of work into asking what we could do to make them feel really welcome,” Ms Pike said. “How could we make student, staff and families feel welcome.

“Now we have a really good feeling, a really nice culture and it is a beautiful place to be.

“Celebrating and noticing the little things can mean a massive difference in a student’s life.

“We really know our kids and have a strong connection with them.”

Ms Pike and staff genuinely value the voices of students, who can enter suggestions or concerns in a school feedback book or raise them at regular meetings.

For example, students, families and the P&C had a say in revising the school’s rewards policy to ensure consistent acknowledgment for students who contributed positively in the classroom and playground, and “firm but fair” consequences for negative behaviours.

Valuing the opinions of students, family and community has led to a section of the school being grassed and the installation of better playground equipment.

From Teamwork Tuesday, to Wellbeing Wednesday and Talented Thursday, the school’s calendar reflects the desire to work together, listen to each other and celebrate success.

Families and the community are welcomed to the school as often as possible, and the school has a collegiate relationship with the Temora community centre.

Sense of belonging is just as important for staff, especially newcomers, so Ms Pike and her team created simple flowcharts to clarify procedures and expectations, so everyone could easily find and understand what was required of them.

Learn more about CESE’s What Works Best resources.