How to fix a school system?

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Join us on Tuesday, 22 October, as we welcome Nick Gibb for a lunch event on how England’s successful reforms—focused on curriculum, early assessments, and teacher training—could serve as a model for revitalizing Australia’s school system. This event will be moderated by CIS Education Program Director, Glenn Fahey.

Decline of the “Finnish Miracle”

Though the education orthodoxy has long idolised international examples like Finland, it’s increasingly clear that this has been misguided. The so-called “Finnish miracle” has turned out to be a disaster, with crushing declines in student outcomes over recent decades. Rather than look to Finland, Australian policymakers should instead look to England.

Education policy lessons from England

Over the past decade, the UK Government has led an impressive reform effort. Among the key accomplishments have been the implementation of a more “knowledge-based” curriculum, universal screening of students’ early reading and maths skills, overhauling teacher training, elevating the importance of classroom management and in-school behaviour, and growing the “free school” movement.

Results from international assessments show that England is on the right track. English students have been improving compared to Scottish and Welsh students and have been climbing the international rankings. The British Daily Telegraph recently article quoted the Minister responsible for reform, Nick Gibb “as the most significant schools minister in England’s history”. During his period in office England rose to being fourth in the world for the reading ability of its 9-year-olds (PIRLS) and rose from 17th to 11th in maths for their 15-year-olds (PISA 2022).

What can Australia learn from English education reform? Can the English experience be replicated Down Under? Why has England flourished when so many other countries have declined? Where does major reform need to begin in order for success?

Nick Gibb is the former Schools Minister for England, serving for over 10 years, and the MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton. As Minister, he introduced the Phonics Screening Check and the Multiplication Tables Check, reforming the Primary National Curriculum and introducing revised GCSEs and A levels.

Glenn Fahey is Director of Education at the Centre for Independent Studies. He is the author of several CIS publications, including: Starting off on the wrong foot: How to improve Initial Teacher Education in Australia and Failing to teach the teacher: An analysis of mathematics Initial Teacher Education. He provides regular commentary across major newspapers across Australia.