10 September 2026 · The Guardian
Australia's Classroom Disruption Needs Attention
Australia's public school students are falling behind private students. A report shows a decline in performance and calls for less screen time.
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Narration includes the headline and summary.
Adapted from The Guardian, 8 September 2026, and rewritten at three levels by Newslish. Newslish is not affiliated with the source. Read the original.
Grammar in this story
“The report highlights ongoing gender disparities, with girls outperforming boys in reading and boys doing better in mathematics.”
Reporting verb + that-clause. Read the guide
Key vocabulary
disruption noun
A disturbance that interrupts something.
“The disruption in the classroom made it hard for students to learn.”
performance noun
How well someone does in a task or activity.
“Her performance in the exam was much better than last year.”
decline noun
A decrease in quality or quantity.
“There has been a decline in the number of students passing the test.”
gender noun
The state of being male or female.
“Gender differences in education can affect students' learning.”
digital adjective
Related to technology or computers.
“Many students use digital tools for their homework.”
Quick quiz
01What is the main idea of the article?
02What does 'disruption' mean in the text?
03How many years behind are public school students?
04What do many students report about classroom noise?
Discussion
The report shows that public school students are two and a half years behind private students. In your answer, use the words 'disruption' and 'decline'.