This guide warns that Australia will not close the ever-widening achievement gap between disadvantaged and advantaged students unless we solve the curriculum planning problem in our schools.

A Grattan Institute survey of 2,243 teachers and principals across Australia found only 15 per cent of teachers have access to a common bank of high-quality curriculum materials for all their classes.

Teachers say they often plan lessons from scratch, scouring the internet and social media to try to find materials. This creates a ‘lesson lottery’ in Australian schools – it undermines student learning and adds to teacher workloads.

This guide identifies six key features of a whole-school curriculum approach:

1. A shared vision among school leaders and teachers.
2. Shared, detailed, and sequenced curriculum plans and materials.
3. An agreed approach to classroom instruction.
4. A tiered model for supporting the learning of all students.
5. Curriculum leadership roles and expertise.
6. Ongoing professional learning and support for teachers.