Evidence-aligned curriculum partnership to support Australian teachers, and lift student outcomes in priority equity schools.
National education not-for-profit Ochre Education today announced that it will deliver an innovative three-year program to support priority equity schools, to access, skillfully use, and further develop Ochre’s curriculum materials based on the learning sciences.
The program, funded through a partnership with the Paul Ramsay Foundation (PRF), focuses on the critical importance of providing schools with evidence-informed, high quality curriculum resources to better support teachers and drive improvement in schools serving communities with large numbers of students experiencing disadvantage. It aims to ensure that schools are well supported in enhancing teacher capacity, driving student academic outcomes and improving equity.
The Advancing Curriculum for Equity (ACE) program supports the increasing focus amongst schooling systems on evidence-informed teaching practice, and the benefits of shared high-quality curriculum resources. It will strengthen understanding of how such benefits can be best realised in schools where students have the least access to resources. This will include considering the role of additional support and local adaptation to school contexts to enhance teachers’ knowledge and resources, enabling them to make informed decisions to support their students’ learning.
Over the next three years, the new $1.6m program will include:
The ACE program will bring together a diverse group of education experts through advisory groups, incorporating perspectives from First Nations communities, along with principals and teachers who will each play a crucial role in shaping the program’s development.
Through rigorous evaluation, the program will also contribute to strengthening the growing evidence-base around how evidence-aligned curriculum can best lift student outcomes in schools with the highest concentrations of disadvantage.
Ochre co-CEO Caroline Reed said the partnership will be a powerful catalyst to strengthening understanding of the needs of schools where students have the least access to resources, and how high-quality curriculum supports can help teachers working in these schools to drive educational excellence and equity.
“We know that teachers are asking for more evidence-aligned support to help their students, and reduce workloads. This is especially important in schools serving disadvantaged communities. We are delighted to be able to offer more targeted support to schools through this 3-year program.” she said.
The Paul Ramsay Foundation’s Head of Young People, John Bush said, “At the Paul Ramsay Foundation, we work toward an Australia where all people and places have what they need to thrive. We know that quality teaching makes a real difference to children’s lives, and Ochre’s practical tools and support help align teaching with key scientific insights into how children learn. We’re very pleased to support Ochre in their work supporting teachers.”
About Ochre Education
Ochre Education is a national not-for profit organisation committed to advancing student outcomes and closing the disadvantage gap by supporting teachers to teach, and enabling all Australian students to access a high-quality curriculum.
We achieve this by working with a community of teachers to develop and support the use of an expertly-sequenced curriculum, alongside a comprehensive library which collects, curates and distributes free, evidence-based, quality-assured, and curriculum-linked teaching resources, to be adapted and used by any teacher anywhere.
Over the last two years, Ochre has produced over 2,000 lessons (8,200 resources) across maths, English and science working with leading education organisations and almost 400 expert practicing teachers. Resources have been accessed by over 7,300 (76%) Australian schools, with over 63,000 teachers registered on our site. 90% of teachers rate our materials as high or very high quality. On average, Ochre library resources have saved teachers 3 hours 20 minutes each week. 88% of teachers report that resources have supported student progress.
“I absolutely love Ochre. I think that more schools should have access to consistent, effective resources like these.”
“These are the best resources I have ever seen. They follow explicit instruction guidelines and get results”.
“We have implemented Ochre for literacy and numeracy. Would never go back to planning from scratch again when you have made such amazing, detailed, curriculum-linked resources. You’ve thought of everything that the average teacher couldn’t possibly make.”
“I cannot believe the quality of resources that are accessible to teachers. I am not exaggerating when I say that your resources have changed my life as a teacher significantly. They have reduced my workload, and I have confidence that my teaching is at a high standard, developmentally appropriate and aligned with curriculum standards.”
About the Paul Ramsay Foundation
PRF is a philanthropic foundation.
The late Paul Ramsay AO established the Foundation in his name in 2006 and, after his death in 2014, left most of his estate to continue his philanthropy for generations to come.
At PRF, we work for a future where people and places have what they need to thrive.
With organisations and communities, we invest in, build, and influence the conditions needed to stop disadvantage in Australia.
Find out more about how we work at www.paulramsayfoundation.org.au