At this time of the school year, many schools are asking families to pay fees. These are not private schools, but public schools, writes Emma Rowe. Why are public schools asking parents to pay fees? The fees are voluntary and go towards a range of items such...
Brendon Hyndman and Vaughan Cruickshank look at why some schools have stopped running camps as costs rise. What can we do instead? School camps have long been a rite of passage for many Australian students in both primary and high school. Typically, camps begin in primary school...
New Australian research from the UNSW Institute for Cyber Security, has found many school-approved apps begin collecting children’s data within seconds — often without clear consent. Here’s what families and educators need to know, and what can change. The hidden cost of “trusted” school apps Parents and...
As school holidays end around Australia, many parents are looking for educational ways to keep their children entertained, write Chris Zomer and Niels Kerssens. If you own an Android device and have young children, you may find yourself browsing Google Play for educational and age-appropriate...
From smartwatches to AI-powered glasses, wearable tech is quietly entering classrooms. While these devices could support learning and wellbeing, experts warn they also raise big questions about privacy, pressure and fairness for students. AI wearables are already in classrooms—whether schools like it or not Could your child’s...
Active zones and mini retreats – Fatemeh Aminpour looks at how to build preschools suitable for neurodivergent kids An estimated 15–20% of children are neurodivergent, with diagnoses rising each year. They may have a neurodevelopmental condition such as autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. We know many neurodivergent children...
As AI tools and instant information reshape how students learn, schools are shifting focus – from catching plagiarism to teaching critical thinking, creativity and the ethical use of sources. From copying to critical thinking For years, plagiarism was treated as a discipline issue—something to catch and penalise....
With Google, YouTube and AI tools at their fingertips, today’s kids can access information instantly—but knowing what counts as their own work is becoming increasingly blurred. Here’s what parents need to understand about plagiarism now. The new reality: information everywhere For today’s students, information isn’t something they...
Families across Australia are already deep into coughs, runny noses and gastro bugs — and for many, it feels relentless. One child returns to care with a sniffle. Within days, half the room is coughing. By the end of the week, siblings, parents and even grandparents...
School breaks make up more than an hour of the school day. Should they be considered part of learning? Asks researcher Brendon Hyndman Most public debate about schooling focuses on what happens inside the classroom – on lessons, tests and academic results. But students also spend significant...
