What does 'back to basics' really mean? What 'reforms' are being signalled this time?

Dr Naomi Barnes

By Dr Naomi Barnes
Community contribution / July 31, 2020

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has been describing the NSW curriculum review as a signal to go “back to basics” despite Professor Geoff Masters, who headed up the review, insisting it is more about decluttering the curriculum.

To educators like me the phrase “back to basics” has signalled different education reforms over the years, which begs the ...

Secondary Teacher - Science - Copy

Hume Anglican Grammar Mickleham VIC

A passionate Secondary educator is sought to join our team in a supportive and professional environment at our Freier campus!

Teaching - Secondary / May 13, 2026

Reception Teacher

Veritas North West London

Teaching - Early childhood / May 13, 2026

SEND Teaching Assistant

Veritas Middlesbrough

Teaching Aides & Special Needs / May 13, 2026

School news / Canberra teen accused of planning racist terrorist attack

A teenager has been charged with terror offences over allegations he was planning a terrorist attack motivated by nationalist and racist extremism.

School news / ‘Extremely difficult’: school principal speaks after stabbing

A school principal stabbed in the neck by a teacher who “mentally snapped” after learning his contract would not be renewed has opened up about his ordeal.

School news / Data breach fears for schools and unis grow after suspected ransom note

Names, email addresses and school locations are believed to have been compromised in a global data breach affecting Australian education providers.

School news / Australian teachers let down by flawed critical thinking capability: instructional coach

Australian teachers have been led astray by a prominent general capability in the national curriculum, which is based on the misguided premise that critical thinking can be taught as an abstract skill, a former teacher turned instructional coach h...

School news / Major cyber attack exposes private details of students and school staff

Personal information of Queensland public school students and teachers has been compromised in a massive global data breach affecting millions.

School news / New study probes social media ban’s potential to save dire literacy rates

Could Australia’s social media ban for under 16s help to arrest our alarming decline in youth literacy by freeing up time for more reading?

Opinion / Big Tech has underdelivered but won out in schools

Back in the 1970’s I was a computerphobe. The dire predictions, probably disseminated by IT corporations, warned that computers would make teachers redundant and that any parent who really cared about their child’s education and future would buy t...

School news / ‘Mentally snapped’: inside Melbourne teacher’s knife attack on principal

Colleagues of a teacher who “snapped” and stabbed a school principal say they are still reeling from the attack, as details of his “catastrophic" mental health spiral have emerged.

School news / Books banned from WA schools after popular author admits to serious crimes

WA schools have permanently banned Craig Silvey's books and other states are expected to follow suit after the popular author admitted guilt to child exploitation charges.

School news / Embattled VCAA handed $222m in Vic budget to ‘safeguard’ exams

The beleaguered Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA), which was responsible for major VCE exam mishaps in 2024 and 2023, will be rebuilt and “set up for the future” thanks to funding to the tune of $222.2 million in the state budge...

Comments