School Network Term Forums
Check out the School Network's 2026 Schedule here.
2025 Term 4 Forum -
High leverage strategies for building a culture of attendance
This EEA School Network forum focused on practical strategies for building a strong culture of attendance in low-SES school contexts. Two case study schools (St Albans Heights Primary School and St Albans Secondary College) shared their journeys and insights to achieving consistently high attendance outcomes.
Key Takeaways included:
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Relationships at the core
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Importance of safe and predictable environments to encouraging attendance
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Family partnerships are critical
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Student voice and agency provides critical insights
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Consistent tiered support and data monitoring provide a foundation
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Its culture AND process: A strong whole-school culture of attendance reduces reliance on intensive Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions.
The bottom line: Attendance improvement is not about isolated processes—it’s about interconnected work across relationships, safety, belonging, family engagement, and consistent systems.
Access Case Studies Here:
St Albans Heights Primary School
St Albans Secondary College
2025 Term 3 Forum -
Working strategically to strengthen classroom behaviour and engagement
On September 2nd we held our Term 3 Forum for a rich discussion of the strategic work of strengthening classroom behaviour and engagement across low-SES school communities. If you were unable to join, you can catch the recording below.
Highlights included:
Cate Whiting from Australian Education Research Organisation (see from 11 mins) breaking down the most critical, foundational classroom management and the work of leading a consistent whole-school approach to these practices, including the opportunity to leverage AERO resources to support this;
John Goodman, Principal of Springside West Secondary College (see from 1hr 2 mins) sharing his school's journey to strengthening student connectedness through a range of strategic interventions including boosting leadership visibility, ensuring consistency across classrooms, and raising accountability accompanied by restorative work;
Chris Deitch, Assistant Principal of Cranbourne West Secondary College (see from 1hr 15 mins) sharing his school focus on strengthening Tier 1 classroom practice through purposeful professional learning of staff;
Megan Corcoran, Director of Wagtail Institute (see from 1 hr 29 min) unpacking how common approaches to behaviour management can be approached from a trauma-informed lens so to ensure safety, trust and success of all students.
2025 Term 2 Forum -
The science of learning as a critical lever for improved equity
On Thursday May 15 we were joined by school leaders and community organisations from across Victoria for a forum focused on the science of learning as a lever for equity.
The full recording can be accessed below.
It includes:
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8 minute mark - Overview of Systems Thinking Framework to enhance school improvement
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20 minute mark - Guest Speaker: ‘Guiding principles for equitable whole-child design’ with Laura E. Hernandez from Learning Policy Institute (US)
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1hr 8 minute mark - Case study of implementing the science of learning in practice with Lachlan Yeates, Principal of Cranbourne Primary School