In early April 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 emergency, more than 3,000 teachers across Australia and New Zealand took part in a survey focusing on their experiences with distance learning during school closures. The survey, conducted by Melbourne-based consultancy Pivot Professional Learning in collaboration with Education Perfect, revealed widespread concern among teachers about the welfare of students after the shift to online learning. Teachers across all school types – primary and secondary; government, religiously-affiliated and independent – provided worrying insights about the new realities and challenges of distance teaching and learning.

Together, we analysed over 800 responses from students across government, Catholic, and independent schools to understand what works and what needs to change. 

​

What we learned: Insights from over 881 student responses 

​

• 30.6% improvement in creating secure passwords 

• 93.4% of student reported applying safer online behaviours 

• Strong teacher student relationships boosted learning outcomes 

The study involved surveys of 80 teachers and 2,500 students, analysing factors such as relationships, high expectations, and positive classroom environments. 

An extensive literature review, desktop research, and statistical testing have shown that great maths teaching has a foundation in:

• Strong relationships between teachers and students

• Teachers having a broad, well-developed pedagogical toolbox; and

• The critical influence that classroom and school culture have on students’ learning.

This study tests these ideas, provides evidence and includes recommendations for teachers and leaders to boost student engagement in Maths. 

In October 2022 Pivot surveyed school leaders across Australia across 8 domains of wellbeing and gathered input on the types of resources they used  to improve and enhance their wellbeing.

The 8 domains covered by the survey were:

1. Self-efficacy

2. Enjoyment

3. Connectedness

4. Autonomy

5. Positivity

6. Supportive School Environment

7. Meaning and Purpose

8. Self-care

Please download the report and the resources.