Improve Yr 7 attendance rates - finish high school

May 14, 2018

The Smith Family have released a study of 30,000 Yr 7 students from low-income families. They've proven the connection between improving Yr 7 attendance rates and finishing high school. 

Learning for Life is a Smith Family program providing resources for students from low-income families numbering more than 38,000 students nationally. These include "a biannual payment, a program co-ordinator who works with the family, and access to a number of other specific programs. These include targeted literacy and numeracy programs, after-school learning clubs, mentoring and career activities, and training in digital and financial literacy for parents or carers."

The students' progress is being monitored through research.

Research into educational approaches is necessary to confirm which policies are best - a novel idea! It is already clear that investment in early childhood education and tutoring of adolescents work. How fantastic to have this research to show it.

Read more here


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Jun 15, 2026

Term 2 almost done, now for Terms 3 & 4

SFS Subscriber enews is out this week in most states/territories.

Find out what's coming up and plan ahead. Not a subscriber?? Go here.

Image: Junkyard Beats, based in Sydney & Melbourne, offer shows and workshops linking sustainability with music. They're great for either inspiring in Term 3 or cel

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Jun 12, 2026

Rich Schools, Poor Schools

Australia’s schooling system is among the most highly segregated in the OECD. Public schools educate the majority of disadvantaged students, while there is concentrated advantage in private schools.

This situation can be attributed, in large part, to our school funding arrangements. Recent research 

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Jun 11, 2026

Hurry if you haven't sorted Book Week

As Term 3 is almost upon us, if you haven't sorted a Book Week incursion, hurry! If you're flexible with dates, you might be able to swing one of our great shows.

See our Book Week Shows here.

Image: Something Special Live - Available NSW, QLD, ACT,VIC,SA & WA

Livestream version available nationally

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