Community Schools Are a Successful Strategy for School Improvement

Posted on Tuesday July 18, 2017

Community schools can be a successful strategy for improving schools according to a new review of research studies and program evaluations. >> Read on...

Factors Contributing to School Success by Disadvantaged Students

Posted on Thursday July 13, 2017

A new study has found that strong peer relationships, caring supportive teachers, family and community support, and strong motivations all contribute significantly to school success by disadvantaged students. >> Read on...

Inclusion Rules the Day

Posted on Monday July 3, 2017

Senator Hanson’s statements on children with autism are based on ignorance and are a breathtaking simplification. Her comments fail to distinguish between the few children for whom a special setting school is appropriate and the many for whom it would be a short cut to a diminished education.< >> Read on...

The Soap Opera That Masquerades as Debate on Education Policy

Posted on Thursday June 29, 2017

The debate over Gonski 2.0 shows that the politics of education policy in our country is fast becoming an unedifying soap opera. >> Read on...

Big Divide Between Haves and Have-Nots in Australian Education

Posted on Wednesday June 28, 2017

A new study shows extensive inequality in education in Australia. Many young children do not receive a ‘fair go’ in accessing education opportunities. >> Read on...

Gonski 2.0 Entrenches Structural Incoherence and Inequity in School Funding

Posted on Tuesday June 20, 2017

Gonski 2.0 entrenches the structural incoherence of school funding so heavily criticised in the original Gonski report. Most private schools will be over-funded and most public schools will be under-funded. >> Read on...

Gonski 2.0 is a Fraud

Posted on Wednesday June 7, 2017

The Turnbull Government’s Gonski 2.0 funding plan is fraudulent. Public schools will get $9 billion less than under Gonski 1.0 while private schools get a new, grander, special deal whereby the large majority will be over-funded. >> Read on...

Birmingham Holds Funding for Public Schools to Ransom

Posted on Sunday June 4, 2017

In an outrageous move, the Minister for Education, Simon Birmingham, has threatened to cut funding to public schools if Gonski 2.0 is not passed by the Senate. >> Read on...

Indexation of the Schooling Resource Standard Should be Reviewed by an Independent Expert Panel

Posted on Friday June 2, 2017

The indexation factor for the Schooling Resource Standard under Gonski 2.0 will likely result in schools not being adequately funded to meet rising wages and other costs. >> Read on...

Special Over-Funding Deal for ACT Catholic Systemic Schools to Continue

Posted on Tuesday May 30, 2017

The Turnbull Government has done a back-flip on its promise to abolish all special funding deals for private schools. A special deal which massively over-funds ACT Catholic systemic schools will continue for another four years. >> Read on...

Gonski 2.0 Abandons Public Schools and Increases Over-Funding of Private Schools

Posted on Tuesday May 30, 2017

Gonski 2.0 abandons public schools to the uncertainty of State and Territory government funding, which has been cut in recent years. Over-funding of private schools will be massively increased, not reduced. >> Read on...

Gonski 2.0 Provides Even More Over-Funding for Private Schools

Posted on Tuesday May 23, 2017

Private schools are set to get more over-funding under Gonski 2.0, not less. The majority of Independent and Catholic schools across Australia will be over-funded while the large majority of public schools will remain under-funded. >> Read on...

Gonski 2.0 is a 40% Gonski

Posted on Thursday May 18, 2017

Gonski 2.0 is not what is seems. It is not a good deal for public schools. It will deliver only a miniscule increase in inflation-adjusted funding per student which is only about 40% of the Gonski 1.0 increase. >> Read on...

Social Segregation in Australian Schools is Amongst the Highest in the World

Posted on Thursday May 4, 2017

Social apartheid is a feature of Australia’s school system. A new OECD report shows that social segregation in Australian schools is amongst the highest in the world. >> Read on...

Call to Change School Uniforms for Girls

Posted on Friday April 28, 2017

Girls’ Uniform Agenda are leading a movement across Australia to change current school uniforms to allow girls to wear shorts and long pants. Skirts and dresses reduce physical activity at school by girls. >> Read on...

The Hidden Cost of East Asian Test Results

Posted on Wednesday April 26, 2017

High education success in East Asia has its costs and Australia must be careful to avoid taking this route. The challenge is to combine good learning outcomes for all students, irrespective of family background, with highly satisfied, healthy students. >> Read on...

Tax Dodges and Subsidies for the Rich Rob Funding for Disadvantaged Schools

Posted on Wednesday April 19, 2017

New revelations on how the wealthy use secretive family trusts to avoid tax is more evidence of the avarice of the rich which robs disadvantaged schools and other public services of much-needed funding. The injustice is compounded by huge government subsidies for elite private schools funded by taxes paid by the rest of the community. >> Read on...

The Benefits of Socio-Economic and Racial Diversity in Schools

Posted on Thursday April 13, 2017

A new research brief shows that socio-economic and racial diversity in schools are beneficial to students in terms of academic results and social understanding and tolerance. >> Read on...

Effective Ways of Improving Achievement by Low SES Students

Posted on Tuesday April 11, 2017

A major new review of academic studies on ways to improve the school results of low socio-economic status (SES) students has identified several interventions that substantially improve achievement. >> Read on...

Private Schools are Over-funded by $4-6 Billion a Year

Posted on Thursday April 6, 2017

Private schools are over-funded to the tune of $4-$6 billion a year. This huge amount of taxpayer funds would be far better used to support disadvantaged students in both public and private schools. >> Read on...

No Academic Benefit to Attending Partially Selective Schools

Posted on Saturday April 1, 2017

A new study shows that partially selective schools are no better in terms of student results than non-selective schools and they are worse on some measures. >> Read on...

How Has it Come to This?

Posted on Friday March 31, 2017

We are at another fork in the education road in the struggle between constructing an education system that better serves disadvantaged students or one that serves privilege in education. >> Read on...

Huge Disparities Between the Resources of Disadvantaged and Advantaged Schools

Posted on Monday March 27, 2017

PISA report shows huge disparities in shortages of educational staff and physical resources between advantaged and disadvantaged schools in Australia. This has to change if the results of disadvantaged students are to improve. >> Read on...

Tasmanian Governments Have Slashed Funding of Public Schools

Posted on Saturday March 25, 2017

The Tasmanian Labor and Liberal Governments have slashed funding for public schools while Commonwealth Government funding increased. Total government funding for private schools has increased by five times that for public schools. >> Read on...

Tax Concessions for the Wealthy Deny Adequate Funding for Disadvantaged Students

Posted on Tuesday March 21, 2017

The latest Tax Expenditures Statement by the Federal Treasury shows that fully funding Gonski is easily affordable if the Government reduced tax concessions for wealthy. >> Read on...

Dreaming the Impossible Dream

Posted on Thursday March 16, 2017

A school principal looks to a new era of senior secondary schooling that provides a broader base for student engagement and success to replace the free enterprise model of education. >> Read on...

Private School Vouchers Fail the Test

Posted on Monday March 13, 2017

A new review of voucher programs in private schools has found that they have failed to make any significant improvements in student achievement, but add to the risks of increasing social segregation and the loss of a common, secular educational experience. >> Read on...

The Barnett Govt Has Taken the Axe to WA Public Schools

Posted on Sunday March 5, 2017

The Barnett Government has taken the axe to funding of public schools while boosting its funding of private schools. It has abandoned disadvantaged students, the vast majority of whom attend public schools. >> Read on...

School Choice Has Failed

Posted on Friday March 3, 2017

Leading US expert says that where school choice has been implemented around the world it has failed to increase student achievement. Instead, it has led to increased social segregation of students. >> Read on...

Australia Has High Quality Teaching But Too Much Out-of-Field Teaching

Posted on Tuesday February 28, 2017

Data from PISA 2015 and other studies show that Australia has a very high quality teaching force by international standards. There is no evidence of any decline in teaching quality that could have contributed to Australia’s declining PISA results. >> Read on...

Student Absenteeism is High in Australia

Posted on Wednesday February 22, 2017

Data from PISA 2015 show that student absenteeism is very high in Australia. It is likely to be a factor behind the high proportion of students who do not achieve expected standards of achievement. >> Read on...

What's Behind Australia's Tottering PISA Results?

Posted on Thursday February 16, 2017

A review of Australia’s results from PISA 2015 and an analysis of factors contributing to the declining results, the high proportion of disadvantaged students not achieving expected standards and the high inequity in school outcomes. >> Read on...

Resource Gaps Between Advantaged & Disadvantaged Schools Among the Largest in the World

Posted on Monday February 13, 2017

The gaps in access to education resources between advantaged and disadvantaged schools in Australia are among the largest in the world and the OECD. >> Read on...

New Study Shows That More Money Improves Results of Disadvantaged Students

Posted on Thursday February 9, 2017

Yet another new study shows that increased funding targeted at disadvantaged students significantly improves secondary school results. It provides further support for increased funding for disadvantaged students in Australia. >> Read on...

Public School Enrolments Increase

Posted on Sunday February 5, 2017

New school enrolment data show a reversal of the steady drift of students from public to private schools over the past 40 years. >> Read on...

Labor Again Exposed as Morally Bankrupt on Private School Overfunding

Posted on Wednesday February 1, 2017

The unity ticket between Tanya Plibersek and Tony Abbott on continuing millions in overfunding for private schools was on display again this week. >> Read on...

Birmingham Misleads on School Funding and Outcomes

Posted on Friday January 27, 2017

Despite the claims of the Federal Education Minister, funding matters for improving the results of disadvantaged students. Targeting funding increases to disadvantaged schools and students is fundamental to improving student achievement. >> Read on...

Birmingham Obfuscates on School Funding and Results

Posted on Thursday January 26, 2017

Simon Birmingham has wilfully ignored the evidence about school funding and outcomes. >> Read on...

Birmingham is Wrong Again on School Funding and Outcomes

Posted on Monday January 23, 2017

The Federal Education Minister’s claim about a vast increase in school funding is totally wrong. The increase per student between 2004-05 and 2013-14 was only 4.5 per cent, adjusted for inflation, and the large part of the increase went to private schools. >> Read on...

More School Funding Cuts by Stealth

Posted on Thursday December 8, 2016

Proposals before the national education ministers’ council meeting next week involve cutting school funding by stealth. The cuts are being disguised by fiddling with the rates of annual increases in funding provided by the current funding model. >> Read on...

Schools in Deep Water Over Mandatory Swim Lessons

Posted on Wednesday November 30, 2016

The Victorian Government is in deep water with school principals over the lack of funding for its new mandatory swimming lessons. >> Read on...

Media Release: End the Corruption of Private School Funding

Posted on Monday November 21, 2016

SOS submission to national education ministers’ council calls for an end to the corruption of private school funding. >> Read on...

Private School Funding is Corrupted by Special Deals

Posted on Monday November 21, 2016

Private school funding is corrupted by special deals and arrangements that provide several billion dollars in over-funding that contradict the principle of needs-based funding. >> Read on...

School Autonomy in England Fails to ‘Unleash Greatness’

Posted on Monday November 14, 2016

A comprehensive review of the experience with school autonomy in England has found little evidence of improvement amongst disadvantaged schools and that it weakens local communities. >> Read on...

Private Schools Do Not Have an Entitlement to Taxpayer Funding

Posted on Thursday November 10, 2016

Private schools are not automatically entitled to taxpayer funding. Government funding for private schools should be based on need. >> Read on...

Funding Increases for Victorian Elite Private Schools Far Exceed that for Disadvantaged Public Schools

Posted on Thursday October 13, 2016

Total government funding per student in high fee, exclusive private schools in Victoria increased by nearly three times more than for the most highly disadvantaged public schools between 2009 and 2014. >> Read on...

Education Disadvantage is Being Ignored in the ACT Election Campaign

Posted on Tuesday October 11, 2016

Education disadvantage is the forgotten issue in the ACT election campaign despite its importance to the Territory’s social well-being and economic prosperity.< >> Read on...

Media Release: Education Disadvantage is the Forgotten Issue in the ACT Election Campaign

Posted on Thursday October 6, 2016

Education disadvantage is the forgotten issue in the ACT election campaign despite its importance to the Territory’s social well-being and economic prosperity >> Read on...

School Funding and Equity in the ACT

Posted on Monday September 26, 2016

An Education Research Brief published by SOS calls for a new funding framework for ACT public schools to provide greater funding for disadvantaged students. >> Read on...

The ACT Education System Can Do Better

Posted on Saturday September 24, 2016

A speech by Trevor Cobbold to a seminar sponsored by the Institute of Governance in Canberra on the topic ‘What or How Much Value Does the ACT Education System Add to Your Child’s Learning’. >> Read on...

Public Primary Schools do as Well as Independent Schools and Better than Catholic Schools

Posted on Saturday September 17, 2016

A new study shows that public primary schools perform as well as Independent schools in NAPLAN tests and do better than Catholic schools >> Read on...

Productivity Commission Fails to Lift the Bonnet on its Own Funding Figures

Posted on Monday September 12, 2016

The Productivity Commission report on the National Education Evidence Base failed to lift the bonnet on its own funding figures and see that the funding engine is badly misfiring. >> Read on...

Victorian Government Schools Short Changed on Funds

Posted on Friday September 9, 2016

A Victorian public school principal laments the poor state of funding in Victoria >> Read on...

Ken Boston Lambasts Political Failure on Gonski

Posted on Wednesday September 7, 2016

A key member of the Gonski School Funding Review, Ken Boston, has savaged the political failure to implement the Gonski plan. >> Read on...

Apple and Other Multinationals are Fleecing the Disadvantaged

Posted on Monday September 5, 2016

Massive tax evasion by multinationals is fleecing the disadvantaged of decent health and education services. Despite Australia’s recent efforts to clamp down on tax evasion, much more needs to be done. >> Read on...

No Success for Independent Public Schools

Posted on Thursday August 18, 2016

Independent public schools have failed to improve student outcomes according to a report by a bi-partisan committee of the WA Parliament. It is a major blow to the Federal Government policy of increasing school autonomy. >> Read on...

Birmingham’s Unscrupulous Duplicities on School Funding

Posted on Monday August 15, 2016

A critical factor behind the stagnation in the NAPLAN results is the continuing failure of governments to spend money where it is most needed and will do most good. Funding for public schools has been cut while funding for private schools has increased. Simon Birmingham has engaged in unscrupulous duplicities about trends in school funding that are designed to avoid further investment in reducing disadvantage in education. >> Read on...

NAPLAN Results Show That the ACT Government Has Dropped the Ball on Education

Posted on Thursday August 4, 2016

The new NAPLAN results show that the ACT school system continues to under-perform given its advantaged population. The results are a condemnation of Government inaction on school education. They warrant a full, public independent inquiry. >> Read on...

Ending Federal Funding of Public Education is Still on the Agenda

Posted on Wednesday April 20, 2016

Ending Federal funding of public schools is still on the agenda despite the claims of the Prime Minister and the Federal Education Minister that they are committed to public schools. COAG has agreed to consider the states taking full responsibility for public school funding in return for a share of personal income taxation. >> Read on...

NAPLAN Report Shows Little Progress in Reducing Inequity in Education

Posted on Sunday April 10, 2016

The NAPLAN results for 2015 show little progress in reducing inequity in education. Large percentages of disadvantaged students do not achieve national standards and large achievement gaps between advantaged and disadvantaged students continue. >> Read on...

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