Innovative Research Universities (IRU) has published this short paper on the impact of COVID-19 on Year 12 school outcomes and the challenges this creates for university selection of the 2020 school leaver cohort.

This paper responds to a request for advice on the differential learning outcomes for online versus in-class education; factors that moderate the relative effectiveness; and distinct implications for students in metropolitan, remote, rural and Indigenous communities.

This review provides an overview of current approaches to managing school closures, as well as recent literature related to young people learning 'outside of school.' A range of material has been drawn upon to both highlight the educational issues of this learning context, as well as the psychosocial and emotional repercussions.

This research finds that nearly half the national school student population is at risk of having their learning and wellbeing significantly compromised by not being at school because they are in a vulnerable group, due to their young age; social disadvantage; specific needs; or family employment context.

This paper particularly focuses on factors that will impede access to quality education, of the effects on the more vulnerable groups, and it outlines models of support and recovery that evidence suggests are useful.