Open-plan classrooms are trendy but there is little evidence to show they help students learn

Anika Stobart, Jordana Hunter and Brigette Garbin

By Anika Stobart, Jordana Hunter and Brigette Garbin
Community contribution / February 13, 2023

If you step into a newly built school these days, chances are you will see classrooms that look very different to the classrooms most of us spent our school years in as children.

On a recent visit to a new primary school in Melbourne, Grattan Institute’s education team entered a large room that ...

Industrial Technology and Design (ITD) Teacher - St Augustine's College, Cairns - St Augustine's College

Catholic Education - Diocese of Cairns Cairns

St Augustine's College, Cairns is looking for an Industrial Technology and Design (ITD) teacher to join their College. Ability to teach Certificate II in Engineering, ...

Teaching - Secondary / Feb 06, 2026

SEMH Teaching Assistant

Veritas South West London

Teaching Aides & Special Needs / Feb 06, 2026

Vocational SEN Teacher

Veritas Burnley

Teaching Aides & Special Needs / Feb 06, 2026

School news / Teaching kids critical thinking skills early may help ensure our future

Education systems need to focus more on independent critical thinking and rational, evidence-based learning and problem-solving to find answers to many of the unprecedented environmental, social and economic challenges facing humanity, experts say.

Opinion / Should school breaks be considered part of learning?

A Charles Sturt University education expert argues that because recess and lunch are generally regarded as ‘breaks’ from learning and make up such a large part of the school day, schools and education systems should give them more consideration.

School news / AI could help students avoid sometimes paralysing learning hurdle – maths anxiety

While personalised support is widely recognised as the most effective way to address maths anxiety, many teachers struggle to deliver this level of support at scale within busy classrooms.

Professional development / Professional Development Through Culture and Aboriginal Cultural Immersions

How Aboriginal Cultural Immersions Strengthen Today’s Youth

School news / Spike in young Aussies vaping despite increased awareness of risks

Young Australians are continuing to vape in alarming numbers, despite being aware of the severe health risks involved, while a worrying cloud has formed around nicotine use among Australian teens, marked by high dependence and low parental awareness.

Opinion / We should not brand the Mosman Park tragedy as ‘unspeakable’

The tragic deaths of Maiwenna ‘Mai’ Goasdoue, 49, and Jarrod Clune, 50, along with their two teenage sons, Leon, 16, and Otis, 14, in their Mosman Park home have prompted strong emotions from many in the community.

School news / New grads hinder charge to implement evidence-based reading instruction: teachers

Underprepared graduate teachers are placing a huge burden on Victorian schools who are working hard to implement Multi-Tiered-Systems-Of-Support (MTSS) for evidence-based reading instruction, a glaring new study has found.

Opinion / Quieter, calmer and less colourful classrooms are far from a ‘back to basics’ return

You could be forgiven for looking at some contemporary classrooms and interpreting what you see as a step back in time.

School news / Checklist supports autistic students transitioning into 2026 school year

As another school year begins, parents, carers and schools are being urged to put simple, proactive supports in place to help autistic students have a smoother start and settle into new environments more quickly.

School news / Global recognition for multifacted consent and respectful relationships program

Teaching about consent and respectful relationships is vital to building a future where every student feels safe, valued and respected, Independent Schools NSW chief executive Margery Evans said today.

Comments