Without streaming where is the inspiration to rise from mediocrity

Streaming went out in the 90s when the AEU decreed it was a dirty word! It takes a very strong principal to even broach the notion of ability grouping these days.

We choose the kids schools on the principals of the school just as much as anything else the school has to offer. We've had them at some schools that seem great on paper, but the dodgy principals have let the school down. I love the management team at the kids current school - especially the Junior School Principal (who is acting as the College Principal at the moment) - she knows nearly every one of those 2000 kids and their abilities).

My kids all have varying abilities and each child is really good at some things and average at others (except for the baby, she's a perfectionist who must be good at all she does - drives me crazy at times). Their school has a stream called Academic Achievers from Year 8, but in the lower school, each child is assessed with a series of tests at the beginning of the year and put into groups within their classroom.

Kids in excellence programs are usually lumped in together in classes as much as possible so that the school can arrange the timetable to accommodate everyone so that the excellence kids don't miss out on the same lesson two weeks in a row. The special needs kids go to the Enrichment Centre for their lessons.

I'm actually a bit surprised that things seem to have slipped back. 5-7 years ago people were talking about 'individualised learning plans', 'affinity groups' and going away from the 'chalk and talk' lesson type. None of this seems to have reached the coal face (or maybe it just not in Oz?)

The streaming should be basically streams of one, with tuition grouping of similar ability pupils - whether they are in classes of mixed ability or not (probably not). Flipped classrooms and IT makes this perfectly possible - so you have to wonder what vested interests mean they haven't done it in 7 years?