Olivia Johnston – The Conversation

While government policy and media critique has focussed on higher education and international students in Canada, secondary schools have attracted far less attention. (Getty Images/Unsplash+)

August 31, 2026

The private school market serving international secondary students in Ontario has grown

Olivia Johnston, Edith Cowan University; Laura Perry, Murdoch University; Roopa Desai Trilokekar, York University, Canada, and Sue Winton, York University, Canada

A lack of regulation raises concern about educational quality as well as children’s safety.

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June 7, 2026

Should we ‘stream’ school students based on ability? New research suggests yes – but we need to be cautious

Olivia Johnston, Edith Cowan University; Becky Taylor, UCL, and David Pomeroy, University of Canterbury

Educators have long debated whether it is better for students to be learning with students of a similar ‘ability’ or a mix.

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April 14, 2022

‘Is this really fair?’ How high school students feel about being streamed into different classes based on ‘ability’

Olivia Johnston, Edith Cowan University

Some students in higher-ability classes said they felt more confident and motivated, but students in lower streams reported conforming to teachers’ low expectations for achievement.

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