Learning Gaps 
OUR GOAL
To give children the resources they need to build future-focused skills in literacy, numeracy and STEM, and positive learning behaviours to be lifelong learners.
By 2027, we aim to impact 150,000 children per year.
Children show growth in literacy, numeracy and STEM.
Children have access to new technologies, develop digital literacy, and problem solving, collaboration, creativity and critical and design thinking skills.
Teachers have improved capabilities in teaching.
THE NEED
Right now, many children across Australia are falling behind in core learning areas.
Children and young people facing disadvantage are:
twice as likely to be unprepared for school. Each year, 22% of 4-5 year olds start school behind.
twice as likely to be behind students with advantaged backgrounds at the age of 15 in reading, maths and science.
less likely to exhibit the growth mindset, resilience and learning habits that set them up to thrive at school and make a positive contribution to society.
Our work to close learning gaps
34,098
children
4,144
teachers
250
school communities
Our unique
model drives
our impact
Schools Plus’ model combines three interdependent components that work together to drive change.
Place-based approach
We take a place-based and community led approach to target the unique needs of children within a specific community. We engage a broad range of stakeholders including teachers, health practitioners and families to be active participants in the development and implementation of interventions, because we know it is the community that knows its children best.
Investment to effect change
We support school communities with critical resources that help them to effect change. This includes funding to help access physical and professional resources as well as coaching to enable the project’s successful implementation and evaluation.
Influencing systems change
Some of our larger-scale projects are now playing a key role in influencing systems change at a sector level with some projects incubated by Schools Plus expanding and scaling into mainstream educational programs.
How we give children more opportunities
We partner with schools to provide targeted and early interventions that help children to develop essential knowledge and skills in core learning areas of literacy, numeracy and STEM.
Integral to this is supporting students to develop traits and behaviours they need to become lifelong learners, as well as providing supportive and inclusive learning environments that allow all students to feel valued and respected.
SUPPORT US to help close Learning Gaps
Where we work
Schools Plus works with school communities across all states and territories in Australia. Our work supports children from schools with an ICSEA score (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) of less than 1000. We also partner with special needs schools.
STORIES OF IMPACT
Restimulating the learning journey
Ava, a Year 4 student at Bruthen Primary School (VIC), responded honestly when teachers asked her and her classmates what they thought about maths; Ava said: “we told them we hated maths.”
Learn more >
Shining a light on a different future
Roxy, Year 10 student at Wynyard High School (TAS), never felt she had a role model. Her mum and older sister never had a job and much like other children in the area, the household she grew up in caused a bit of trauma. Feeling like her prospects were bleak, Roxy did not regularly attend school.
Learn more >
Lighting the spark
As a school already providing opportunities for students to develop entrepreneurial skills, Kepnock State High School (QLD) sought to do more and with a focus on First Nations students.
Learn more >
