The word ‘excellence’ is thrown around a lot in the context of education. Schools promise it, parents expect it and students spend their schooling in pursuit of it. Our fixation on excellence has become a hallmark of the Australian education system. Yet, on the international stage our results are moving further from it, with our latest PISA results showing just over half of students achieved the National Proficient Standard in maths, science and reading. 

High standards in education are important, without a doubt. But what’s interesting is that some of the best education systems in the world don’t put excellence or student achievement at their centre. Take Finland, for example. It has one of the highest ranking education systems and is often held up as the gold-standard to the rest of the world, but their system wasn’t built on excellence. It’s simply a by-product. 

So what is Finland doing right? And what can Australia learn from them?

The historical context of Australian and Finnish education systems

The history of both education systems provides some clues as to why each system is structured the way that it is today.

The Australian education system was initially modelled after the British system, and has undergone numerous reforms to address the needs of its diverse population. Key developments include the establishment of compulsory education in the late 19th century and the introduction of the Australian Curriculum in the 21st century, aimed at standardising education across states and territories. 

Finland’s education system has a rich history of more progressive reforms. After gaining independence in 1917, Finland focused on creating an inclusive and equitable education system. The most significant transformation occurred in the 1970s with the introduction of the comprehensive school system, which emphasised equal opportunities for all students and minimised the role of standardised testing.

Finland operates a highly centralised education system, overseen by the Finnish National Agency for Education. All schools follow the National Core Curriculum, ensuring uniformity in educational standards. The Finnish system comprises mainly public schools, with very few private institutions, reflecting the country’s commitment to equality in education.

Approaches to pedagogy in Australia and Finland

With a focus on excellence comes the need for assessments and accountability. In Australia, standardised testing is commonplace and seeks to measure students across the specific outcomes laid out by the curriculum. To meet the standards expected, schools often emphasise the need to follow a structured curriculum that affords some time to preparation for standardised assessments. While this approach aims to provide a uniform education experience for students across the country, it actually limits teacher flexibility, takes the focus away from individual student needs and puts achievement above all else.

In Finland, the pedagogical approach is much more student-centred. The Finnish education system prioritises well-being, equality, and the development of the whole child. Rather than focusing heavily on standardised testing (there’s only one standard test at the end of schooling), Finnish schools emphasise formative assessments and the overall development of critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Finnish teachers enjoy a high degree of professional autonomy, allowing them to tailor their teaching methods to the needs of their students. This flexibility fosters an adaptive learning environment where the curriculum can be adjusted based on individual student progress and interests. 

There is also a focus on cooperation rather than competition in Finland, with no rankings for schools or teachers, but rather collaboration between schools and educators.

Finnish education also places a strong emphasis on the teacher-student relationship. Small class sizes and a less hierarchical school structure enable teachers to know their students well and provide personalised support. In Australia, larger class sizes and a more formalised school structure can sometimes hinder the ability to provide individualised attention.

While Australian pedagogy focuses on standardisation and measurable outcomes, Finnish pedagogy emphasises holistic development, teacher autonomy, and student well-being. Both systems have their strengths, but the Finnish model’s focus on flexibility and student-centred learning often garners international praise for its effectiveness in fostering not only academic achievement but also overall student well-being and lifelong learning skills.

A peek inside a Finnish school

The differences between Australian and Finnish schools don’t end with pedagogy. With Finland’s unwavering focus on equity and a student-centred approach, schools are determined to create an environment that supports all students.

In fact, in Finland a child’s right to a free childhood begins before they enter the classroom. Students don’t start school until they’re seven, ensuring they have time to just be a kid. Once school does start, Finnish students have shorter days than Australian students, with school starting between 9.00 – 9.45am and finishing at 2pm. Research has found that later start times are more beneficial to learning and in Finland it shows. There’s also only 9 years of compulsory schooling with everything past Year 10 optional. That means that Finnish students have 6,300 hours of formal instruction over 9 years, compared to 11,000 hours for Australian students over 11 years. That’s about 5 years less schooling than Australia! Still, 93% of Finns (compared to 90% of Australians) graduate high school and 66% go on to higher education (52.6% in Australia).

In the classroom, students get 15 minute breaks every 45 minutes to break up their learning throughout the day, which has been proven to improve learning. Their learning is also centred on their own individual interests and the classroom environment is much more relaxed, giving space to students to learn at their own pace. 

In Finland, there are far fewer teachers, meaning that often students can have the same teacher for up to six years of their education. This continuity allows students and teachers to develop strong relationships where the teacher builds a comprehensive understanding of how each student learns best and can implement strategies accordingly.

The school environment is also vastly different to Australian schools. At school, every student has access to free meals, health care, psychological counselling and individual guidance. By establishing an equitable environment, Finnish students are given the essentials for a strong foundation for learning, regardless of their background.

Outside of school the slower pace continues. Finnish students have the least amount of homework than any other student in the world, completing an average of only 30 minutes per night. There also isn’t a culture of tutoring given performance isn’t the goal of schooling. 

Teachers in Finnish schools

Despite taking a student-centred approach, teachers in Finland have more autonomy and support than in many other countries. The courses for becoming a teacher are among the most rigorous and selective in the country, with all teachers required to complete a master’s degree before entering the classroom. 

Teachers are highly respected and have a lot of autonomy in their classrooms. More importantly, there isn’t the same level of accountability as there is in Australian classrooms. Of course, if a teacher isn’t performing the school’s leadership will address it. But teachers are not micromanaged, they don’t have to strictly follow processes or complete paperwork. They are trusted professionals who are given the space to do their jobs. This has been shown to reduce stress and improve job satisfaction, so teachers enter the classroom happier and ready for every lesson. 

Continuous professional development is also a key aspect of the Finnish system, contributing to high job satisfaction and excellent educational outcomes.

Learning from the best

The question remains, could Australia’s education system ever be more like Finland’s? With so much of Finland’s success stemming from the structure of their education system, most of the change required in Australia would be system-level. Things like delaying the starting age for school, shortening hours and giving every student access to an equal education are outside of an individual school’s power. Would they make an impact? Potentially. But learning from Finland doesn’t mean pulling apart our system to make a carbon copy of theirs. It’s about recognising what they value in their system and how that impacts education.

Respecting teachers, focusing on equity over excellence, teaching students how to learn and giving them the time and space they need to do it. That’s what seems to matter. Of course, some schools in Australia are already doing this. They’re giving teachers the autonomy and time they need to do their jobs; they’re implementing breakfast programs, lunch clubs, scholarships and support programs; they’re breaking up lessons with brain breaks, focusing on making lessons engaging and having fun in class. The focus in these schools is on the individual student, what they need in order to learn and their individual growth (not their score on a test).

These may seem like small things, but they have been shown to improve educational outcomes and combined they can make a big difference.

Putting the students at the centre of education

Australia and Finland are both aiming to do the best they can for students. Their definitions of what this is and how they will get there are vastly different. Australia’s diverse and dynamic system aims to standardise the curriculum and coordinate student outcomes, while Finland’s emphasis on equity and student well-being sets a global benchmark. There is a lot that Australia can learn from Finland, most importantly, that student excellence isn’t about achievements. It’s about developing the whole person and setting them up for a lifetime of learning.

Did you know Maths Pathway is certified by the Education Alliance Finland?

Education Alliance Finland provides a product evaluation & certification service based on global quality standards for learning solutions. Maths Pathway’s pedagogical approach to maths education received a score of 92%. Read more about it here.