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Education Minister Erica Stanford says “groundbreaking” maths gains in just 12 weeks show the Government’s reforms to raise student achievement are already delivering for students who need it most.
New data from a nationwide maths acceleration trial for year 7 and 8 students who needed extra support shows students made, on average, a year to two years’ of progress in just 12 weeks in developing fundamental maths skills.
Even more encouraging, she says, students not in the trial, simply learning under the new curriculum, an hour-a-day of maths, and using high quality resources, also made, on average, a full year’s progress in just 12 weeks.
Stanford says the results show the Government’s focus on fixing the basics is working for children in every community.
“Every parent wants their child to feel confident in maths. These results show students are catching up faster than anyone expected, thanks to strong foundations, clear teaching, and teachers who are embracing the reforms across the country.”
Earlier this year, the ‘Make It Count’ maths action plan came into effect.
It introduced structured mathematics, an internationally benchmarked curriculum, one million workbooks and textbooks delivered to classrooms, and professional learning for more than 22,000 teachers, alongside hour-a-day maths and phones away.
The 12-week acceleration trial involved approximately 1500 year 7 and 8 students who were a year or more behind.
Students received targeted, small-group tutoring up to four times a week across three models: in-person, hybrid and online.
Across the first 12-week period week, 1381 students achieved:
- Around two years’ progress in the in-person model
- 13-14 months’ progress in the hybrid model
- 12 months’ progress in the online model
“The biggest breakthrough was for the students who were working in their usual classes with their teacher,” Stanford says.
“These students were not part of the first 12-week trial but were benefiting from hour-a-day maths, the new curriculum, and new workbooks.
“They made, on average, a full year’s progress in just 12 weeks. That shows the reforms are lifting achievement for all children, not just those receiving additional tutoring.”
These students along with approximately a further 1500 are benefiting from phase two of the trial.
The analysis shows similar gains regardless of background, equity index, school or ethnicity, she says.
“These results are down to the incredible work of teachers who are implementing these significant reforms.
“The Education Review Office’s (ERO) recent report already showed early signs of improved achievement and engagement in English and maths.
“This new data confirms the reforms are reversing years of decline and helping students reach their potential.”
The $40 million programme is being rolled out nationwide, with around 13,000 students set to take part from term one 2026.
All schools that requested to be part of the programme have been accepted.
“Our reforms are about ambition – raising achievement, closing the equity gap and making sure every child can succeed,” Stanford says.
“Education is supposed to be the great equaliser. These results show that, with the right foundations and the right support, every student can get ahead and be confident mathematicians.”
