Abstract:

The National Report on Schooling in Australia 2016 addresses the eight areas of commitment to action specified in the Melbourne Declaration. It describes the national policy and reporting context for school education in Australia and reports against the nationally agreed key performance measures (KPMs) for schooling.

This report argues that the 'Gonski 2 Review' into Australian schools failed to fulfill its terms of reference to examine the evidence regarding the most effective teaching and learning strategies, and to provide advice on how the extra federal government funding for schools should be used to improve student achievement.

The aim of the Fresh Water Literacies Project was to build on primary aged students' understanding of the importance and finite availability of natural resources.

The latest Gonski report points a way to the future of school reform, but has not broken with its disastrous past, writes Dean Ashenden.