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A new report into student learning gaps has found that bright kids attending disadvantaged schools will be years behind low-achieving peers in non-disadvantaged schools.

The study conducted by the Grattan Institute, highlights the existing disparity in our schools with findings of an “alarming” increase in gaps in learning as students move through school grades.

Analysing NAPLAN data, the report has found high-achieving students at low socioeconomic schools will make two and a half years less progress than low achievers in high socioeconomic schools.  For example, children that who are already behind by 10 months in Year 3, will find themselves more than two years behind by the time they reach Year 9.

“Disadvantaged students are falling further behind each year they are at school, on our watch,” the report said.

Recommendations in the Institute’s report say that policy makers should focus on target teaching, learning gaps and supporting the needs of each individual child.It also calls for more help for disadvantaged students.

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  • The sad thing is that I notice even adults that can not spell or use the English language correctly and they are raising children. If these children are not corrected in school what hope do they have.

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  • I would love to know how much further I’d have gotten if I’d had decent teachers who actually cared!

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  • Interesting article and topic. Thank you.

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  • I always thought bright children will do well no matter where they are. These findings are both interesting and worrying.

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  • I don’t believe this can solely fall on the teachers heads, I think they work extremely hard. Sometimes education isn’t important or understood by the families so they aren’t always so encouraging or supportive of their school and children.

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  • The government must pay up the remainder of the Gonski funding and properly resource all public schools if it is to address these inequalities.
    It’s time to stop funding private schools and make sure everyone has access to top quality education.

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  • Think indeed it’s very important that those who struggle more or less get extra support and that the government provides for this.

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  • Seems as though the system hasn’t really changed since I left school 40 years ago. There are always going to be children who are disadvantaged at learning. It is up to the Government to provide further funding and we need teachers who are able to put in more effort and time for those struggling students otherwise the further they get behind will eventually cause them to give up.
    I know I’ve been there…

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  • Educating your child is an interesting discussion. The school you choose has to be right for your child for all sorts of reasons. I hear good and bad about many schools, both public and private, but at the end of the day, it needs to be right for your child for many reasons – socially and academically.

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  • Making children behave in low socio-economic areas is the problem – otherwise children who want to learn will learn no matter what obstacles are placed in their way.

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  • Lke ns

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  • I have taught in school in low and high socioeconomic areas and believe me, teachers work hard in both but they spend a LOT more time, learning time, trying to control the class, in low socioeconomic areas.

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