Isolation as a form of discipline: how should schools manage poor student behaviour?
SolStock/Getty Images Last week a group of parents heavily criticised prestigious Victorian private school Geelong Grammar for using isolation as a form of discipline during a year-long boarding school program. The disciplinary action was taken after a group of Year 9s snuck away to a nearby pub at night. As a result, some of the […]
‘I struggled a lot with ATAR’: there’s another way high school students can qualify for a uni degree
Carol Yepes/ Getty Images The senior years of high school can be very stressful. For many students, they are dominated by exams and pressure to gain a certain ATAR for certain university courses. For some students, perhaps for health or family reasons – this pathway isn’t possible. But this does not mean uni isn’t an […]
Caps are coming for domestic uni places, but the government also wants to grow student numbers. Can this work?
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare introduced a bill to parliament on Thursday that will see universities face new caps on domestic student numbers. At the same time, the government will fund additional student places. It says this will add up to 230,000 new commencing students over the next decade. This is to help attract more […]
Unis are going back to in-person exams. But some students are finding new ways to cheat
BalanceFormcreative/Getty Images Earlier this month the University of Sydney launched an investigation into allegations miniature spy cameras were used to record and distribute exam content online. At the same time, the UK’s national examinations regulator warned smart glasses, smartwatches and concealed earpieces are emerging threats for unis. Chief regulator of qualifications Sir Ian Bauckham noted […]
More NSW students are going to private schools – where are they coming from?
JohnnyGreig/Getty Images Australian families are increasingly choosing to send their children to private schools. As of 2025, 17% of Australian students attended private (also known as independent) schools. This is up from 13% in 2006. In comparison, the proportion of students going to public (also called government) schools dropped from 67% in 2006 to 63% […]
‘Too pretty to do math’? Here’s the real reason girls aren’t choosing to study maths
The t-shirt is yellow, 100% cotton and meant for “everyday wear”. Across the front, it declares in italic script, “I’m too pretty to do math”. While some may see it as a joke, it is sparking widespread criticism from some of Australia’s science leaders. The shirt, created by Australian label Lioness, has raised questions about […]
Victoria wants daily ‘device-free’ time in high schools. What works best for learning?
Alistair Berg/Getty Images Victorian high schools have been asked to include “planned device-free time” in their learning from term 1 2027. Schools will be able to make individual decisions on how this works, but it could include using whiteboards or paper, group debates, practical experiments or performances instead. This follows a screen-time cap of 90 […]
Men make up less than 18% of Australian primary school teachers. Is this a problem?
10’000 Hours/Getty Images This week, a group of Australian primary school principals called for more male primary school teachers, saying boys needed more “male role models”. The Australian Government Primary Principals Association told a parliamentary inquiry male students were struggling with their schoolwork in part due to a lack of male role models. So, what […]
Childcare workers have been guaranteed a pay bump. What’s the fine print?
Pavel Danilyuk/Pexels The federal government has announced another A$3.6 billion to boost childcare workers’ pay. The government says combined with other changes to the minimum wage, this will mean about $255 more per week for a typical full-time educator, compared to December 2024. The $3.6 billion continues a 15% pay rise for early childhood educators, […]
‘Every day I think about money’: how can we support uni students who struggle financially?
LinkedIn Sales Navigator/Pexels A university place is often described as a “pathway to opportunity”. But for many students, getting in is only part of the challenge. The other challenge is affording to stay. This is becoming more difficult as uni fees and costs-of-living increase. In a new report, we look at the financial pressures facing […]