Publication Date

6-2026

Subjects

Educational attainment, Educational environment, Large scale assessment, Preschool education, Reading achievement, Socioeconomic status,

Abstract

The 2026 Australian House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education Inquiry into the factors driving educational attainment considered the factors that drive variations in educational attainment including between and among boys and girls, from early learning, through school education, (including vocational education and training (VET) in schools), to tertiary education. It sought to identify the factors driving differential engagement, participation, and outcomes at all levels and transitions from lower to senior secondary school; from school to tertiary education; and from education into the workforce and broader society. The Australian Council for Educational Research's submission draws on evidence from four major international education assessments to examine the factors driving variation in educational attainment in Australia: the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD’s) International Early Learning and Child Well-being Study (IELS 2025) and Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA 2022), and the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement’s (IEA’s) Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS 2021) and Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS 2023). Together, these studies provide a comprehensive view of learning and attainment across the educational lifecycle. The IEA studies examine curriculum-based achievement, showing what students have learned at key stages of schooling and providing insight into classroom learning, teaching and curriculum implementation. In contrast, the OECD studies focus on how learners apply their knowledge and skills in real-world contexts, providing insight into readiness for further education, employment and participation in society.

Place of Publication

Canberra, Australia

Publisher

House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education

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