Are Australian schools becoming less inclusive? Changes to class ability grouping practices in Australian secondary schools

Dados Bibliográficos

ID12578985
AutoresOlivia Johnston (0000-0003-3314-9031, Edith Cowan University, autor correspondente), Peter Palamara (0000-0001-8163-3333, Edith Cowan University)
Ano2025
Páginas1-23
Data de publicação2025-07-11
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoInternational Journal of Inclusive Education (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1360-3116 • E-ISSN: 1464-5173
EditoraTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13603116.2025.2527256
OpenAlexW4412357168
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas2
Referências citadas40

Class ability grouping does not improve overall academic results, and is inequitable because it segregates students according to their disability, race, class, gender, and other factors that already make students at risk in education. The practice is not inclusive and previous research has shown that it exacerbates social disadvantage. Despite the evidence, historical efforts to change practices in Australia have been unsuccessful and many schools still use class ability grouping. This paper presents analysis of data from the Class Ability Grouping Survey about how often schools reported changing their class ability grouping practices in Year 7–9 Mathematics, English, Science, and Humanities. Data from n = 193 secondary schools across five states show that 70% of schools reported no changes since 2021. However, significant changes were introduced in the remaining schools, with more schools increasing (17.6%) than decreasing (11.8%) class ability grouping practices. There were more changes in independent schools, larger schools, and schools already using class ability grouping than in government schools, smaller schools, and schools using mixed ability grouping. Schools’ changing practices suggest that decision makers were not always confident in their grouping practices and may be open to change, findings that can guide future research and policy in Australia

Class (philosophy · Inclusion (mineral · Mainstreaming · Mathematics education · Pedagogy · Sociology · Special education · Early Childhood Education and Development · Education Systems and Policy · Gender Studies · Psychology · School Choice and Performance