In this episode of School Improvement, Dominique Beech is joined by teacher Gus Humphries who tells us all about the professional learning program he developed, Questions for Thinking (Q4T). Q4T allows teachers to investigate and develop an area of their practice through a confidential partnership. In our conversation, Gus expands on the program design and the impact it's having on staff and school culture. 

Australia introduced social media age restrictions at the end of last year, sparking widespread global interest. The eSafety Commissioner has released an update on the first 3 months of implementation and in this article, we explore the early impact of the reforms, areas of good practice and concern, and insights from educators and parents.

‘Perhaps the most important realisation for any school community is that culture is never owned by leadership alone.’ In her first column for Teacher, Associate Principal Rachael Lehr explores how strong, positive school cultures are deliberately built through everyday actions and shared responsibility.

In today’s article Samantha Ephraims from Kalkie State School in Queensland uses the teen fandoms of Taylor Swift and television show Stranger Things as examples of students mirroring the scientific process, and suggests that the fandoms can be used to address a decline in scientific engagement in students.

‘Supporting relationship skills often requires empathy, active listening and sustained dialogue.’ OECD Director of Education and Skills Andreas Schleicher shares international insights from TALIS 2024 on how teachers respond when students disengage or struggle with relationship skills.

For some students, the difference between walking through the school gate or staying home is as simple – and as heavy – as a clean uniform. Not-for-profit Orange Sky Australia is now partnering with schools to install free, on-campus washing machines and dryers, guided by a simple belief: access to laundry should never be a barrier to education.

In early childhood settings, educators often navigate a familiar tension: how to honour children’s play as the foundation of learning while ensuring curriculum expectations are met? In today’s article, early childhood educators Helen Bartlett and Lauren Bastion explain how they built a curriculum-tracking platform that analyses children’s learning stories and generates visual curriculum insights.

The new ‘water classroom’ at All Saints’ College in Western Australia is designed to bring curriculum, culture and wellbeing together in one place. In today’s photo story, we learn more about the physical space, how it encourages students to engage with their natural environment, and the impact on their mental health and wellbeing. 

Do your students count on their fingers for mathematics tasks? Do you encourage them to count on their fingers, or do you focus on supporting them to make calculations mentally? New research from Switzerland suggests finger counting has a positive impact on student outcomes, but only when it’s used at a specific age. 

As a school leader, organising your school timetable might be a task you’re beginning to turn your mind to as we look ahead to the 2026 school year. In this article, we speak to 2 principals trialling major changes to their school calendar – one by moving to an 8-term model, and the other by introducing a 4-day learning week.