School's back

From today, students and teachers across Australia are heading back to school as major school reforms roll out and extra funding flows to public schools. 

Last year we saw some improvements in attendance and literacy and numeracy. We have also seen some improvements in high school completion rates, but there is a long way to go. 

That’s what this funding and the reforms it is tied to are all about. 

Better and Fairer Schools Agreement rolls out 

Last year every State and Territory signed up to the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement. This year it starts to roll out. 

This is the biggest new investment in public schools by the Australian Government ever. It is worth $16.5 billion over the next 10 years. 

It is not a blank cheque. It is tied to real, practical reforms to reduce the number of students who need additional support for literacy and numeracy, and help students who fall behind to catch up, keep up and finish school. 

This includes: 

• Year 1 phonics checks and numeracy checks
• Evidence-based teaching practices, and
• More individualised support for students who need it, such as with small group tutoring. 

States and territories started rolling out phonics checks last year. 

All states and territories will roll out or trial the Year 1 numeracy checks this year, except Western Australia.

 These checks help to identify children early who need additional support. 

Small group tutoring helps students who fall behind to catch up. 

Work is also underway on a targeted review of the maths curriculum (F-2) to help ensure students get the foundations right. 

The Australian Government and the State and Territories are also working on the potential delivery of a new Australian Teaching and Learning Commission to support and help drive the reforms we have all signed up to. 

Anti-Bullying National Plan 

This year the National Anti-Bullying Plan will also roll out. 

Education Ministers adopted the national plan to address bullying in October last year. 

This includes a key recommendation that schools take action within 48 hours of a complaint or incident. 

Education departments are working on an implementation plan that Education Ministers will consider when we meet in February. 

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare: 

“This is a big year. 

“We are fixing the funding of our public schools and we are rolling out reform. 

“That includes things like Year 1 phonics checks and numeracy checks and catch up tutoring. It also includes a national anti-bullying plan. 

“This year we also start work on improving the curriculum and we are rolling out major reforms to teacher training. 

“Last year we saw some improvements in attendance and literacy and numeracy, but there is a long way to go. That’s what these reforms are all about.”