The Australian Government Department of Education this week released Nous Group’s report on policy interventions to increase socio-economic diversity in Australia’s schools.

The report was commissioned to inform the Better and Fairer Education System review, which was established to provide jurisdictions with advice on what might be included in a new national school funding agreement. The Review panel sought advice on the range of policy interventions available to promote racial, cultural or socioeconomic diversity in schools.

In our report, we reviewed school systems around the world to identify what had been tested and what had worked to improve both educational equity and outcomes. A range of policy options were examined, including those that put a break on creating high concentrations of disadvantage through regulation, and others that were based on the idea of balancing representation by attracting more people from diverse backgrounds. After considering their effectiveness, we also assessed the extent to which they might be transferable to Australia.

Nous Principal, Tanya Smith, said: “Our research explored ten important policy interventions and noted that the greatest benefits are achieved when several are used in combination – that is, as part of a coherent and concerted effort.

“Reversing the trend toward growing economic segregation in Australia’s schools will be very difficult, but it is absolutely essential for a school system that supports educational equity as well as educational outcomes. The two go hand-in-hand.”

In producing this report, Nous worked with school experts and educators Chris Bonner and Tom Greenwell, who have written extensively on these issues of educational equity. In addition to examining the literature on relevant policy interventions, Nous also analysed Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) data, and conducted ten research interviews with leading international education economics and policy experts. They included the OECD’s Education Director, Andreas Schleicher, and former OECD Education Director, Barry McGaw, as well as experts on the education reforms in several countries whose examples featured in the report. 

View the full report here.