NAPLAN results tell us there’s a major problem. But we may already have the solution

made for sobering reading. One in three Australian school students is not meeting minimum numeracy and literacy expectations and one in 10 will need additional support to catch up. Predictably, high NAPLAN scores correlate closely with socio-economic advantage, indicating that areas of disadvantage have a disproportionate pooling of students who need learning support.

This data suggest that education outcomes across the country are not improving; arguably they are becoming more pronounced and less equitable. What’s changed? Is screen time entirely to blame? Is it our teachers? That seems unlikely. By all accounts, teachers have never worked so hard or been under so much pressure to improve student outcomes.

ACO artistic director Richard Tognetti with students from St Marys North Public School. Tanginoa Halaifonua-Palu, 6, Ava Tuckwood, 6, Rebel Nordsven, 6 and Peyton Arecco, 7.

An athlete in training undertakes a range of different exercises, not solely focusing on the core mechanics required for their particular event. Cross-training is just as important for our brain as it is for our body. We need variety to grow. Across the fields of neuroscience, education and psychology, studies have provided convincing evidence that music training is unique in its capacity to enhance cognitive functioning and academic performance, particularly in young people.

The Australian Chamber Orchestra has been running its Foundations Program at St Marys North Public, a school comprised of many families with severe socio-economic disadvantage, since 2018. The program, funded by the ACO through philanthropy, involves each student in years 1 to 3 participating in 15 minutes of daily violin and cello practice during school hours, within the classroom.

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