Back to school means back to bedtimes

Amid the back-to-school dash for backpacks, books and last-minute haircuts, children’s sleep routines must also be high on the agenda if parents want to start the year on the right foot.

Why meta skills matter

The development of meta-skills will be vital in a society and economy transformed by technological change, and a new ‘Institute for Human Progress’ could help the education system prepare students for an exciting but uncertain future.

Assessing what we value, not valuing what we assess

NAPLAN and PISA are part of a wider approach to schooling and testing that isn’t fit for purpose anymore, and our focus on results can leave us oblivious to the big picture,

We need another education conversation

The results of the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) are in—and they are alarming for Australia.

Australia’s slipping student scores will widen income inequality

The skills children learn at school have dramatic implications for their own future and the nation’s productivity, living standards and income inequality.

Rescuing Australia’s lost students

The alarmingly high number of school-aged Australians detached from education has been largely hidden – until now.

Tackling Chinese military infiltration of Western universities

Australian and other western universities have been all too eager to accept funding from China for research projects which bolster the Chinese military’s threat.

Why most music students drop out

More than half of year 10 music students in NSW dropped the subject by the time they reached year 12, often so they could choose subjects that would help them get a higher ATAR.

Unlocking the school gates

Some schools still discourage, limit or even refuse to accept children with special needs, despite a legal obligation to do so.

Will Australia support a shift to lifelong learning?

Dr Caitlin Ruddock reflects on the discussions at the recent GAP Summit on Lifelong Learning and the challenges Australian educationalists and policy makers face in closing our gaps in skills and knowledge.

Alternative ATAR

As students prepare for their end-of-year exams, new research is exploring an alternative to the ATAR that can recognise student achievement and inspire good learning in broader ways.

Teach kids to hike as well as basketball

Teaching children about the types of activities they’re more likely to do as they get older, as well as traditional school sports, could help Australians stay fitter in the future.