Bridget Mallory, Acting Head of Junior Mathematics at Park Ridge State High School, knew that if her students were to succeed in maths, there was one big problem she’d need to solve.”Students were coming to us with huge, huge gaps in their learning. I had teachers coming to me ripping their hair out, saying ‘I can’t physically differentiate for the different levels in my classroom.’”

For many schools across Australia, this struggle is all too familiar. Teachers walk into their classrooms knowing that their students are at vastly different stages of mathematical understanding. Some have mastered the content, ready to be extended. Others have significant gaps, struggling to engage because they lack the foundational knowledge needed to progress.

This makes differentiation – tailoring learning to each student’s needs – essential. But in a traditional classroom, where teachers are already stretched thin, achieving true differentiation can feel impossible.

Managing different abilities in the classroom

Despite their teachers’ best efforts, the one-size-fits-all approach of age-based learning wasn’t working. Students who had fallen behind were becoming disengaged, while those who needed extension weren’t being challenged.

“We just thought, there has to be a better way,” said Bridget. “Because if you don’t fill those gaps, if you don’t have that foundation, you can’t move on.”

Concordia Lutheran College faced a similar issue. Teachers knew that without targeted intervention, the learning gaps would only widen. But how do you personalise learning for every student while still covering the required curriculum?

“Data is one of the most powerful things that we can look at to help us make our decisions,” says Paul Baker, a Year 6 Mathematics teacher at Concordia. But knowing where students are struggling is only half the battle—teachers also need the right tools to act on that data effectively.

This is where Instructive is changing the game.

Differentiation made possible with Instructive

Instructive was designed with this exact challenge in mind. It provides a structured, data-driven way to implement differentiation in maths classrooms, making it easier for teachers to meet every student’s needs without increasing their workload.

Rather than forcing teachers to choose between moving through the curriculum and addressing individual learning gaps, instructive blends both. It uses detailed diagnostics to identify what students know and where they need support. Then, it creates a bespoke curriculum plan that allows students to work at their own level while still engaging with age-based content.

“It’s so easy to identify where every student is,” says Karin McKenzie, Head of Department at Concordia Lutheran College. “With Instructive, we can see exactly what each student needs and adjust our teaching accordingly.”

The impact of differentiation on student growth

The difference is clear. When students are given work at the right level—challenging enough to promote growth but not so difficult that they become discouraged—they engage more deeply, build confidence, and achieve better results.

At Park Ridge State High School, Instructive helped teachers regain control of differentiation in their classrooms. Instead of struggling to balance different ability levels manually, teachers had the tools they needed to personalise learning without sacrificing explicit teaching.

At Concordia Lutheran College, the data-driven approach provided by Instructive meant that students could progress at a pace suited to their understanding, closing gaps while still keeping up with the curriculum.

And across schools using Instructive, the results speak for themselves:

📊 Students learn 50% more maths each year

🎓 84% are senior maths ready

🔢 41% are advanced maths ready

Setting students up for success

For teachers and school leaders, the goal is always the same: to help students achieve their full potential in maths. But without the right tools, differentiation can feel like an impossible task.

With Instructive, differentiation becomes not only manageable but highly effective. By providing targeted, personalised learning pathways while maintaining explicit instruction, Instructive ensures that every student—whether they need support or extension—is catered for.

If your school is looking for a way to close learning gaps, improve engagement, and see real student growth, Instructive is the answer. And the best part? It’s free for all of 2025.

Learn more about Instructive today and see the difference differentiation can make.