Primary students' levels of physical activity have declined due to the spread of sedentary, screen-based entertainment, growing sensitivity to risks of unsupervised outdoor play, changed parental work patterns and, within schools, the pressures of a crowded curriculum. The Australian Sports Commission has developed a national program that addresses many of these needs and concerns. Active After-school Communities provides primary school children with access to quality, fun, safe and inclusive sport and other structured physical activities between 3:00 and 5:30 pm. The free program is offered to all Australian primary schools and currently involves up to 150,000 children each term.
Aligning education more closely with labour market needs can counteract the disadvantages faced by low-SES students, if backed by innovative teaching methods – Curriculum Perspectives.
Backwards-design approaches ensure that all students are taught the necessary skills to succeed in assessment tasks – Primary and Middle Years Educator.