Dominique Russell

From inside the classroom to the school’s outdoor spaces, there’s plenty to consider when it comes to learning spaces. In this edition of Researching education: 5 further readings, we share 5 resources on the topic of learning spaces.

Twelve recently completed schools have been recognised as finalists for this year’s World Architecture Festival. In this photo story, we share which school was named winner, and more about the design of each finalist from across the globe. 

Vocational education and training (VET) in Schools help students gain qualifications and plan for future careers. New data show student participation numbers for VET in Schools has reached its highest level in 2024 since collection began in 2006. Find out more in this infographic. 

Last term, we shared the 2025 winners of the Australian STEM Video Game Challenge. Teacher aide David Jeffery was the mentor for one of the winning student teams. In today’s Q&A, he tells us about the benefits of the challenge for student learning, and shares advice for other schools wanting to have a crack in 2026.

Each cycle of the global Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) includes a teacher questionnaire. One questionnaire topic – encouraging mathematical thinking – can help foster critical thinking, enhance problem-solving skills and allow students to see the relevance and connectedness of mathematics in their lives.

The winners of the 2025 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Excellence in Science Teaching have just been announced. The national award includes prize money of $250,000 and is presented to one primary and one secondary teacher in Australia. Find out more about the 2025 winners in this article. 

Intrinsic motivation to teach is an important aspect of teacher retention. The latest Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS 2024) gathered data about teachers’ motivations by asking them about factors of high importance for working in the profession. Here are the top 5 motivating factors for Australian TALIS participants.

Our 2025 reader survey is open today! Take a few moments and have your say – we read all the responses we receive, and your views help shape the content we cover in the future. 

A survey of 115,000 children and young people aged 5-18 from across the UK asked what, if anything, would make them want to write in their free time by giving them a list of 11 suggestions. The results offer insights into possible strategies for your own students.

Teaching assistants (TAs) and other specialist support staff are important resources in a school. In this edition of Researching education: 5 further readings, we share 5 resources on this topic, including guidance reports designed specifically for leaders and a report on the role of Aboriginal Education Workers.