Recently, writes Sally Larsen, Australia woke up to a barrage of reports about the latest NAPLAN results. Media coverage described an “epic fail”, “plummeting” performances and a “bleak picture”. Education experts spoke of “grim reading”, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the results “alarming”. But many of these...
The federal government has only ‘noted’ a call to end special schools, reports Linda J. Graham. What does this mean for students with a disability? We have just received the long-awaited response from the Australian government to the disability royal commission’s final report. One of the most...
Recent debates suggest yes, but students and schools are much more complex, report Jane Louise Hunter and Don Carter. New South Wales has just announced a curriculum “shake-up” for primary schools to start in 2027. Along with new content about the human body, consent, and screen time,...
What does this mean for their privacy? Ask researchers Karley Beckman and Tiffani Apps If you search most primary or high school websites, you will likely find images of happy, smiling children. Student images are also used publicly for school newsletters, social media accounts and other school...
Will all states agree to sign on? asks Glenn C. Savage The Albanese Federal government has released details of the next funding agreement for Australian schools. The Better and Fairer Schools Agreement is a new ten-year agreement that will have significant power to shape what happens in...
What happens when you pay Year 7 students to do better on NAPLAN? Jayanta Sarkar and Dipanwita Sarkar found out. Next month, we are expecting the results from the annual NAPLAN tests, which students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sat earlier this year. Each year,...
Rauno Parrila, Anne Castles, and Saskia Kohnen explain what these terms mean, what they involve, and what you can do at home. Victoria has just announced that all government schools will be required to use phonics to teach reading from next year. This brings it in line...
‘The teacher returned the call to my ex’. Researchers Renee Desmarchelier, India Bryce and Kate Cantrell investigate why separated parents struggle to get information from their children’s school. It is increasingly common for Australian children to live in a different house from one of their parents....
Teaching digital media literacy will, reports lecturer Melissa L. Gould The astounding rise in social media use in the past few years is seeing policy responses come to a head, both internationally and in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Some estimates put the number of people using social media...
Here’s what to look out for, writes Samantha Vlcek We know children often miss more school days in the winter months as sickness sets in. But at this time of year, parents and teachers can also notice children disengaging from preferred activities and finding it more difficult...
