Introduction

Abstract

Since the mid-2000s, school-age education has experienced significant and unprecedented changes, principally through national reforms. In some cases, these changes were debated for decades in Australia, but for various reasons, never materialised. Major reforms include the National Assessment Programme to assess young people's literacy and numeracy attainment (NAPLAN); a national Australian Curriculum; the My School website, reporting in a consistent and accessible format on the profile, resourcing and achievements of every Australian school; national professional standards for teachers and principals; the legislation and partial implementation of a new federal funding model (the Student Res..