The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) recently released an in-depth analysis of Australian student and principal questionnaire responses, collected as part of the OECD’s latest Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). In this Q&A, we speak with ACER’s Lisa De Bortoli and Catherine Underwood about what Australia’s results tell us.

In this podcast episode, Glenn Kayes, Deputy Principal at Kellyville High School in New South Wales, shares how the school’s average student attendance rate has increased, thanks to an evaluation and review of existing policies and procedures, and a raft of new measures.

New research has emphasised the importance of adolescent school belonging as a long-term protective factor that can mitigate against later depression, anxiety, and stress. In this episode of The Research Files we speak to the lead author about the findings and the implications for schools.

In Australia, 12% of girls will have their first period between the ages of 8 and 11 years, but formal education on menstruation is not included in the curriculum until age 10 at the earliest. A new study has interviewed school staff to explore how teachers are supporting younger students experiencing menstruation, and ways to overcome any barriers.

School absence has an impact on student outcomes, so being aware of attendance rates for your class, year group, or whole school, and understanding the reasons behind the absence is important. With this information to hand, what will make a difference? That’s the topic of Dr Kirsten Hancock’s research.

In this expert Q&A, Lisa De Bortoli – ACER Senior Research Fellow and National Project Manager for Australia for PISA – explains what the latest test results tell us about students’ skills and knowledge, and how schools can use the data to inform teaching and learning. She also shares early findings from PISA’s student and principal questionnaires.

The winners of the 2023 Teacher Awards have been announced. In today’s article, we speak with the winner of the Fostering Strong School-Community Partnerships Award, Rubina Shaheen Nawabi from Noble Park English Language School in Victoria.

Many educators are engaging in leadership practice as part of their day-to-day work. In this episode of Teacher Staffroom, we’re going to bring you a range of stories we’ve published recently on the topic of leadership.

New research shows children and young people with disability in Australia are experiencing exclusion and bullying in school settings. In this episode, we’re joined by a lead investigator of the research, Dr Catherine Smith, to find out more about the experience of children with disability in schools, and their recommendations for educators.

‘[Do] teachers need to be trained therapists? A resounding no. Teachers can provide the best support to students impacted by trauma by developing positive relationships, implementing evidence-informed classroom practices, providing effective instruction and managing the classroom environment so that all students, including those affected by trauma, can thrive,’ Dr Lorna Hepburn writes in our latest reader submission.