Testing Teachers is a three-part observational documentary that will take viewers behind the school gate to reveal the struggles and success Australian teachers face in the schools of Australia's toughest communities. With unprecedented access to three public high schools across Victoria, Western Australia and Northern Territory, Testing Teachers follows six first-time teachers over the course of 12 months as they start their new career as teachers.
Recent studies have shown that the postcode some children are born in can determine the level of education they’ll achieve. On average, a child growing up in a disadvantaged area is almost three years behind their peers from wealthier suburbs.
Teach For Australia is an ambitious program that places some of Australia’s brightest minds in schools serving low socioeconomic communities, where many students, according to Australian school standard averages, are falling behind. After a block of intensive training, these high achievers, who have had successful careers in other industries, are placed into classrooms where they are needed most, while they continue to study for their Masters of Teaching on the job.
With extraordinary access to this unique program and classrooms across metropolitan and remote Australia, Testing Teachers charts the highs and lows of these new teachers over 12 months. It also tackles some of the current issues new and ongoing teachers face, with stats claiming one in four new teachers suffer emotional exhaustion.
Teacher Sasha Lytas with students Source: SBS
Testing Teachers is a very real and personal journey of a group of passionate individuals as they confront Australia’s education gap head on, in what could be the most challenging year of their lives.
Testing Teachers premieres Wednesday, 19 April at 8.30pm on SBS and will be available after broadcast, streaming anytime on SBS On Demand
