Despite mathematics being a subject that underpins critical thinking and future career opportunities, studies show that one-third of Australian students failing to meet NAPLAN proficiency and top performers trailing global peers.
A growing body of evidence shows that students learn best through explicit, sequenced instruction with ample practice and real-world application – and it’s an approach that not only boosts student outcomes but also supports teachers by making learning visible and reducing planning time.
However, it's not embedded in all schools.
A new report released this week by the Grattan Institute aims to change that. Drawing on best practice from seven standout schools, the Maths Guarantee report’s new guide outlines practical steps school leaders can take now to lift maths outcomes and drive whole-school improvement.
‘Principals don’t need to wait for others to act’
The practical, easy-to-follow guide complements Grattan Institute’s influential April 2025 report, The Maths Guarantee: How to boost students’ learning in primary schools.
That report showed that one in three Australian school students fail to achieve proficiency in maths, and our top-performing maths students lag far behind the best in the world.
It called on all state governments, and the Catholic and independent school sectors, to commit to a 10-year Maths Guarantee strategy to transform Australia’s maths performance. But primary school principals do not need to wait for others to act, says Grattan Institute Education Program Director Jordana Hunter.
“This guide identifies the practical steps school leaders can take right now to embed great maths teaching in their classrooms.”
In an upcoming article, The Educator will look at how maths improvement at The Entrance Public School is being driven by two dedicated assistant principals who have no classroom teaching responsibilities and focus full-time on instructional leadership.