S1E3: Tackling disadvantage

Every child should have access to a high quality education but in Australia, many of our most vulnerable kids are missing out. Children who come from disadvantaged backgrounds are up to three years behind the most advantaged students. So how do we close this education gap? Schools and principals are already working hard to cover up these disparities, providing extra support: uniforms, breakfast programs and extra tutoring. How could we do better? What could we learn from countries like Finland that consistently top the charts when it comes to educational outcomes?

In this episode we meet students and their principal Denise Lofts from Ullladulla, a regional south coast NSW town. Despite its low socio-economic status, the school has above average education results. We also speak to Pasi Sahlberg, a world-renowned Finnish educator with big ideas about how to overcome disadvantage in schools.

Pasi Sahlberg’s website and books: Pasisahlberg.com

Public Education Foundation research paper on disadvantage in education: publiceducationfoundation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Issues-Paper_What-Price-The-Gap.pdf

OECD Equity in Education report: oecd.org/pisa/Equity-in-Education-country-note-Australia.pdf

New South Wales Secondary Principals Council nswspc.org.au/

publiceducationfoundation.org.au/podcast

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