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• Education

Quality school education is vital for individual potential and a healthy society. All children should have access to an education that is responsive to their needs as well as upholding high academic standards. CIS’s research focus is on policies that improve the quality of teaching and student outcomes.

Improving Student Behaviour in Schools
Tom Bennett, Manisha Gazula, Blaise JosephApril 2, 2026
Join CIS in Sydney on Thursday, 7 May for the launch of new research on...
Behind Every Great Teacher Is a Great System | David Didau, Jenny Donovan & Trisha Jha
Trisha Jha, David Didau, Jenny DonovanMarch 20, 2026

David Didau — education consultant, teacher trainer, and author of Making Kids Cleverer and Intelligent...

Trisha Jha on science of learning, Peter Tulip on the RBA hikes, and more
March 17, 2026

Peter Tulip on 2GB Money News re the forthcoming RBA decision — from 2:30 to...

March Appeal CIS Newsletter
March 16, 2026

Taylor pressed on trade, migration and the limits of government Michael Stutchbury sat down with...

Coverage of Marian Tupy’s paper, Zoe Hilton on batteries, Peter Tulip on the RBA
March 6, 2026

Not migrants: research pinpoints housing crisis culprit — Yahoo Restricting Australia’s migrant intake is not...

Coverage of Marian Tupy’s paper, Peter Tulip on housing, Robert Carling on CGT and more
March 5, 2026

Not migrants: research pinpoints housing crisis culprit — Canberra Times and across ACM via AAP...

Implementing the Science of Learning: teacher experiences
Trisha JhaFebruary 22, 2024RR47

Table of Contents Executive Summary Introduction Background and policy context A pathway for advancing the...

science of learning, learning, education, learning styles,
What is the Science of Learning?
Trisha JhaFebruary 15, 2024AP63

Table of Contents Executive Summary Introduction Politics, philosophy and education Progressive education versus modern evidence...

Maths Practices You Can Count On: Five Research-Validated Practices in Mathematics
Sarah Powell, Sarah King, Sarah BenzFebruary 1, 2024AP62

Introduction An understanding of mathematics gained during primary and secondary school is essential for...

Facing Up To Maths Anxiety: How It Affects Achievement And What Can Be Done About It
David C. GearyJanuary 23, 2024AP61

Executive summary The mathematical competencies of students have a long-term influence on their employability and...

Job-ready Graduates 2.0: The Universities Accord and centralised control of universities and courses
Andrew NortonNovember 16, 2023AP58

Summary Australia’s graduate labour market does not always seem to function well. Graduates with degrees...

The Need For Speed: why fluency counts for maths learning
Toni Hatten-RobertsOctober 19, 2023AP57

1. Introduction Australia has a problem in maths achievement which is shown in stark relief...

Gonksi fails a second time around
Jennifer Buckingham OAMApril 30, 2018The Australian Financial Review

The highly anticipated Gonski 2.0 report offers little useful guidance for schools and school systems,...

Cut the losses on Gonski 2.0 review and quietly back away
Jennifer Buckingham OAMApril 30, 2018The Spectator Australia

You have to feel just a little bit sorry for Simon Birmingham. The federal education...

Are non-government schools really on the way out?
Blaise JosephApril 27, 2018Ideas@TheCentre

Federal government modelling suggests demand for non-government schools is going to fall substantially in the...

Phonics test for year-one kids offers lots of benefits and no downside
Jennifer Buckingham OAMApril 22, 2018The Australian Financial Review

Many people in education circles are keen for the impending Gonski 2.0 report. But their...

NAPLAN not perfect but doesn’t deserve to die
Jennifer Buckingham OAMApril 13, 2018Ideas@TheCentre

Nary a week goes by without NAPLAN being in the news. Everyone has an opinion...

South Australia’s trial of England’s year one phonics check shows why we need it
Jennifer Buckingham OAMApril 10, 2018The Conversation

The proposal to introduce a phonics check — employed in schools in England towards the...

The Manchurian Campus? Threats to Free Speech in Higher Education
Rob Stokes, Tom SwitzerOctober 22, 2018

Amidst the debate about Chinese influence in Australia, NSW Minister for Education, the Hon. Rob...

Have We All Gone Mad? The Snowflake Epidemic
Tiffany Jenkins, Steven Schwartz, Lindsay Shepherd, Claire LehmannAugust 17, 2018

University campuses throughout the West are in the grip of a troubling social phenomenon, now...

What’s happened to the University?
Frank Furedi, Marguerite Johnson, Steven SchwartzOctober 6, 2017

Trigger warnings, cultural appropriation and safe spaces. Who decided to bestow guardian status to Australian...

Taking control of the classroom: How teachers and principals can improve behaviour in schools
Tom Bennett, Sue O’Neill, Kylie HedgerJuly 20, 2017

Poor behaviour in schools is a significant factor undermining student achievement. International data suggests behaviour...

How to Improve Australian Phonics and Literacy
Nick GibbApril 20, 2017

England’s schools have undergone substantial changes in the last decade, including: introducing systematic phonics teaching...

Phonics and Literacy
Rob StokesApril 20, 2017

England’s schools have undergone substantial changes in the last decade, including: introducing systematic phonics teaching...

Submission to Senate Education and Employment References Committee
Michael Wu October 22, 2025CIS

Despite good intentions, Australia’s Early Childhood Education and Care system has expanded well beyond its...

Submission to the Productivity Commission’s Interim Report on Building a Skilled and Adaptable Workforce
Trisha JhaSeptember 18, 2025

Submission at a glance 1. Achieving written curriculum quality is a necessary step for long-term...

Submission to the Independent Review of Education in Tasmania
Trisha JhaOctober 4, 2024

Introduction The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) is a leading independent public policy think tank...

Submission to the Inquiry into Literacy and Numeracy in ACT Public Schools
Trisha JhaFebruary 27, 2024

This submission does not directly seek to answer the 20 questions posted in the Consultation...

Submission to the Legislative Council Inquiry into the State Education System in Victoria
Trisha JhaOctober 4, 2023

Introduction The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) is a leading independent public policy think...

Submission to the NSW Curriculum Review Interim Report Consultations
Fiona MuellerDecember 1, 2019

The NSW Government commissioned a review of the state’s curriculum in September, 2018, to be...

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