Education | Latest News & Analysis | The Sydney Morning Herald

Education

Advertisement
Nina Lubbers (left) and her daughter Morgan, 10, who is in year 6 at Fort Street Public School.

'What an opportunity': The families turning down private schools for Sydney's high-rise High

The new Inner City High School in Surry Hills will have high-tech facilities; a diverse catchment, and the opportunity to create the school culture from scratch.

  • by Jordan Baker

Latest

Education Minister Dan Tehan has urged state governments to boost their school funding.
Exclusive
Education

Tehan calls on states to deliver 'fair share' of school funding, declares war on mobiles

The Education Minister hit out a tendency for states to withdraw funding when the federal government boost spending.

  • by Fergus Hunter
Paul Ramsay, the founder of Ramsay Health Care, died in 2014 without clear advice about his wishes for his legacy.
Ramsay Centre

The $3.5 billion will, the instant millionaires ... and what was left out

Paul Ramsay's will contains $400 million worth of gifts to his friends and family. But what it doesn't say is causing problems.

  • by Jordan Baker
The 20 NSW selective schools with the highest minimum entry scores.
Schools

Minimum entry scores for selective schools higher than ever

The minimum entry scores for most of the top selective schools have increased significantly, as the entry test has begun to be overhauled.

  • by Pallavi Singhal
Programs to retrain existing teachers in maths are long overdue and are now likely the only way left to address a shortage, new research has found.
Schools

Australia facing urgent maths teacher shortage after 30 years of inaction

Fewer than one in four Australian high school students have a qualified maths teacher and the situation is about to get worse, with a projected boom in student numbers following a 30-year decline in the supply of new maths-trained teachers.

  • by Pallavi Singhal
Education Minister Dan Tehan.
Exclusive
Education

Government raises concerns over foreign uni students' English skills

Education Minister Dan Tehan said he had received reports of students not having adequate language skills and sought information on any "systemic failure" in the sector's adherence to standards.

  • by Fergus Hunter
Advertisement
Jillian Broadbent, Chancellor of the University of Wollongong, believes the Ramsay course will encourage critical thinking
Ramsay Centre

Western civilisation degree 'good for society', says university chief

The Ramsay Centre's controversial course will produce thinkers who are able to 'apply themselves to anything', says university chancellor Jillian Broadbent.

  • by Jordan Baker
Scott Morrison spoke about his vision for the nation.
Liberal Party

Scott Morrison names health and education as key elements of his vision for Australia

The Liberal leader has also said that infrastructure and prevention of youth suicide are core to his agenda.

  • by David Crowe
universities
Exclusive
Education

'Dire need': Elite universities urge parties to boost financial support for students

The call to raise student welfare payments by at least $75 a week is contained in a series of election-eve recommendations from the Group of Eight.

  • by Fergus Hunter
A simulation with doctors and nurses managing a rapidly deteriorating baby found their performance deteriorated if they were exposed to even mild rudness.
Opinion
Bullying

Patient safety put at risk by negative workplace cultures

Politics is not the only profession where the absence of common courtesy is having dire consequences.

  • by Johanna Westbrook
Maths teacher Eddie Woo.
Schools

Teachers told to get online as search for next Eddie Woo begins

The search is on for the next Eddie Woo.

  • by Pallavi Singhal
The office of Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt was the subject of the investigation.
Exclusive
Ken Wyatt

Transcripts reveal Ken Wyatt's office was subject to a secret inquiry into bullying allegations

Transcripts of interviews with multiple former staffers lay bare a culture of "intimidation" as a result of the "inappropriate influence" of a senior advisor.

  • by Latika Bourke
In the contest of ideas, too many of us are confirming our biases, and running with those rather than challenging ourselves with competing thoughts.
Opinion
Opinion

If we only confirm our biases, expect the same old vicious circles

Consider this, voters. To many of us resort to the comfort of information that supports our own opinions, but that is the enemy of knowledge.

  • by Nick Enfield
Labor pledges to fully fund NSW public schools
Opinion
Opinion

Time has come for national school starting age

Across the country, there can be a two-year age range in which kids can begin school. That's a problem, according to the Australian Childcare Alliance.

  • by Paul Mondo
A major review of the NSW Curriculum is under way.
Schools

'Big ideas' and digital literacy: education department calls for NSW schools shake-up

Role and content of syllabuses should be re-thought as part of the NSW curriculum review, says the NSW Department of Education.

  • by Jordan Baker
Students at Brunswick South West Primary School now have access to a culturally diverse collection of books.
National

Beyond the pale: children's books present monoculture

Study finds children's book characters tend to be white but some educators are seeking out books that better reflect diverse Australia.

  • by Anna Prytz
Advertisement
Karin Von Specht, right, and Nina Wilson serve healthy food at the St Mary's Primary School Canteen in North Sydney
Nutrition

Fava beans or Uber Eats? Health food dilemma threatens school canteens

Canteen operators say the cost of producing healthier options to comply with new guidelines could force many to close.

  • by Jordan Baker and Nigel Gladstone
Nate West has been suspended due to his ADHD, but is thriving at a school that understands his learning needs
Exclusive
Disability

'Caught in a vice': Why one in four students with ADHD has been suspended

ADHD is one of the most prevalent but unsupported disabilites affecting Australia's school-aged children, a new report has found.

  • by Jordan Baker
Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek urged Catholic school leaders and parents to stand with public schools in seeking more federal funding.
Schools

Labor flags scrutiny of government's $1.2 billion fund for private schools

Tanya Plibersek has committed to matching overall funding levels but signalled changes to how the "choice and affordability fund" is distributed.

  • by Pallavi Singhal and Fergus Hunter
Students who overachieve in school generally participate in a variety of extra curricular activities.
Schools

High-achieving students identify the top reasons behind their schooling success

A new study on working above standard identified students who were achieving at least one year above what was expected for their year in numeracy and literacy standardised tests, including NAPLAN.

  • by Pallavi Singhal
The bus, complete with powerpoints, is part of a broader shift within the school to improve students' wellbeing.
Mental health

All aboard: teachers and students catch the bus to improve mental health

The HSC is one of the most challenging times confronting youngsters in Sydney as they navigate towards early adulthood.

  • by Laura Chung
Chair of the Australian Council for Education Research Anthony Mackay.
Opinion
Opinion

Music education neglected but instrumental

Music education helps students academically and socially.

  • by Anthony Mackay
Catherine Devine and her son Joshie.
High school

Beyond the sales pitch: getting the most from school open days

School open day period is upon us, providing an opportunity for schools to spruik and for families to get a feel for the place, the students and the principal.

  • by Madeleine Heffernan
Child prodigies and how much time they should spend max on their pursuits. Sahara Hillman-Varma, Harry Robinson, Isabella Lu and Leo Abisaab.
Parenting

46 hours a week of practice: When is enough, enough for prodigy children?

From the nine-year-old who practises piano six-and-a-half hours a day to the teenage singer who missed four weeks of school, some children are devoted to their hobbies.

  • by Caitlin Fitzsimmons and Ben Weir
Academics say they are seeing a rise in helicopter parents at university.
University

The rise of the helicopter parent at Australian universities

Parents are contacting lecturers to query their adult children's grades and one mother even threatened legal action after her child missed out on a tutorial.

  • by Henrietta Cook
So-called "elite" schools have benefited from millions of dollars in capital grants.
Exclusive
Education

Government funds go to construction projects at 'elite' private schools

The federal government says it is the states' responsibility to fund capital works at public schools, which educate the majority of Australia's students.

  • by Fergus Hunter
Advertisement
Online courses will attract more students from overseas to Australia.
University of New South Wales

A new frontier for Australia's international student market

High quality online courses could expand Australia's international student market.

  • by Jordan Baker
On campus at the University of Sydney.
University

Everyone 'has their own online business, everyone has founded a charity': why uni life is changing

Gone are the unhurried days when it was as much about social learning as it was about the academic kind.

  • by Jordan Baker
There has been a rise in the number of students saying they did not identify with a religion.
Schools

Fewer students identifying a religion fuels push to scrap scripture

Fewer public school students are identifying with a religion, but there is still no information about how many families are opting for Special Religious Education

  • by Jordan Baker and Nigel Gladstone
Lina Cho has until May to decide between Oxford, Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania
University

'A dream come true': The surge in Australians heading to overseas unis

China and the United States are the most popular destinations for Australian students wanting to study overseas

  • by Jordan Baker
'The profession is in crisis in terms of its status and not encouraging people to enter teaching,' says Tania Aspland, president of the Australian Council of Deans of Education.
Schools

'Profession in crisis': warning about teacher shortage risk

University deans say a fall in students starting teaching degrees has come at the same time as a projected boom in school enrolments.

  • by Pallavi Singhal
“I don’t think people realise that just because there is freedom of speech, there’s no freedom of character assassination.”
Education

The new school bullies aren’t children – they’re parents

Furious Facebook posts, abusive emails, school sit-ins, menacing behaviour: the bullying of staff by parents can have devastating consequences.

  • by Melissa Fyfe and Henrietta Cook
Teachers teaching to the NAPLAN tests could be leading to Australia's declining international performance, assessment expert Jihyun Lee says.
Naplan

'Terminally corrupted': It's time for NAPLAN to go, union says

The Australian teachers union has joined calls for NAPLAN to be scrapped, as the British opposition says high pressure testing gives children nightmares.

  • by Jordan Baker
Evan Hellevik, 13, on his first day of home schooling.
Schools

'Struggling to cope': why more families are opting for home schooling

The number of home schooled children in NSW has surged in the past five years, with parents citing special needs and educational philosophy as the key reasons

  • by Jordan Baker
Former James Cook University professor Peter Ridd.
Freedom of speech

Sacking of James Cook University professor was 'unlawful', court rules

Peter Ridd's legal action against JCU's treatment of him has received significant attention in the media due to his outspoken scepticism of climate change science.

  • by Fergus Hunter
'Segregation among schools continues to grow in Australia,' a Grattan Institute report says.
Schools

Cut Catholic and private school fund, raise teaching ATARs: Grattan

Major changes to school funding and introducing strong consequences for universities that don't raise teaching ATAR requirements are part of a new spate of education recommendations for the next Commonwealth government.

  • by Pallavi Singhal
Advertisement
Portrait of Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek in the press gallery at Parliament House in Canberra on  Wednesday 20 Febrruary 2019. fedpol Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
School funding

Labor faces showdown with states over school funding 'accounting tricks'

Tanya Plibersek has flagged a tougher approach to what state governments can count as legitimate education spending.

  • by Fergus Hunter
Rissalah College is being sued in the NSW Supreme Court.
Private schools

'Very significant risk of fire': school accused of endangering lives

Primary school children at Rissalah College were allegedly exposed to "an unacceptably high risk of death or injury in the event of a fire", a court has been told.

  • by Georgina Mitchell
Ben Jensen, chief executive of Learning First
Opinion
Opinion

A quality curriculum is essential to Australian schools

Curriculum can have a larger impact on student achievement than many other more common interventions at a lower cost.

  • by Ben Jensen and Jacqueline Magee
The childcare sector is worried about the number of vulnerable families that have stopped claiming child care support
Early childhood

'Really worried': big drop in vulnerable families using childcare

Childcare workers are worried about a huge drop in the number of vulnerable families claiming subsidies for childcare

  • by Jordan Baker
Mobile phone bans are proving controversial around the world
Schools

Phones no worse for you than potatoes, international expert says

The expert warned a ban on phones in primary schools may pose new challenges for students when they leave school.

  • by Pallavi Singhal
Ascham School in Edgecliff
Private schools

The playground diversity behind Ascham's NAPLAN rankings

Once the most exclusive girls' school in Sydney, Ascham has seen a sharp rise in students from relatively disadvantaged backgrounds.

  • by Jordan Baker
Jane Anderson and Rodney Hanratty have expressed concern about plans to demolish a heritage-listed building on the SCEGGS Darlinghurst campus.
Development

'There is mistrust': SCEGGS Darlinghurst under fire for plan to demolish heritage building

The elite Sydney girls' school may build a swimming pool and childcare centre under its controversial $48.7 million masterplan.

  • by Andrew Taylor
After 10 years, calls for an end to NAPLAN are getting louder.
Naplan

'People are frightened of NAPLAN': Australia's testing dilemma

Calls to dump NAPLAN are becoming louder, but the debate is forcing an uncomfortable question to be asked: is there a viable alternative?

  • by Jordan Baker
Radio host Ray Hadley os the subject of a fresh internal investigation at 2GB.
Opinion
Opinion

The radio station built on bullying

I was at 2GB when one of Ray Hadley's most recent accusers was monstered by the radio star.

  • by Tim Brunero
Universities are not convinced there is a need for the code..
Freedom of speech

'Culture wars': Universities urged to protect against Chinese influence with free speech code

Human Rights Watch says Australian universities should reconsider a code to protect students and staff against China, despite a finding there was no free speech crisis.

  • by Fergus Hunter
Advertisement
The University of Wollongong will be home to the Ramsay Centre's Western civilisation course.
University

Union launches court action to stop Wollongong University's Ramsay degree

The union is seeking to overturn the vice-chancellor's decision to fast-tracked approval of the Western civilisation degree.

  • by Fergus Hunter
Students at St Margaret Mary's Catholic Primary School in Randwick are showing strong signs of academic improvement.
Schools

The NSW schools that outstripped the rest in NAPLAN

Sixty schools across NSW showed exceptional improvement in the most recent NAPLAN tests.

  • by Jordan Baker
A quarter of NSW children are starting school a year later than they are eligible, and the delay is helping them fare better in kindergarten than their younger peers. Photo: Jessica Hromas
Schools

'A gift of time': Children who start school later fare better, study finds

A quarter of NSW children are starting school a year later than they are eligible, and the delay is helping them fare better in kindergarten than their younger peers.

  • by Jordan Baker
Academic freedom must be defended at Australia's universities.
China

More must be done to protect academic freedoms under threat from China

Our research found that the Chinese state’s repressive apparatus follows students from China to Australia.

  • by Elaine Pearson