School is for Everyone

Improving participation and wellbeing for every student

Policy reform over the past decade in Australia has focused on fairness and inclusion for every student at school. More work is needed, though, to identify and strengthen practices and conditions in schools that reduce educational inequality and help ensure students with different abilities and backgrounds can engage and thrive at school.

Phase 1: Focus Groups and Interviews

Focus groups with students and interviews with staff and principals to identify practices at their school that help and hinder participation and felt sense of belonging for students who find being at school challenging.

183 students in Years 8 to 11 shared their views and experiences through 30 semi-structured focus groups.

40 staff (10 Principals and 30 teachers/support staff) participated in in-depth interviews.

Phase 2: Survey

The findings from Phase 1 were distilled into a survey to identify which participation and belonging practices are positively associated with students' wellbeing, safety, engagement and recognition. Across the schools, 1498 students and 268 staff took part in the survey. 

Phases 3 and 4: Knowledge translation

Phases 3 and 4 reflect the practical and collaborative intent of the project. The research team worked collaboratively with participating school staff and student advisors to co-design a professional learning resource comprised of 8 micro-modules aimed at supporting schools to implement the research findings. This professional learning is undergoing accreditation and available to NSW schools from 2025.