Jewel Topsfield
Jewel Topsfield is the education editor at The Age. She was formerly the deputy editor of the National Times and spent three years in the Press Gallery in Canberra, reporting on education, immigration and federal politics. Jewel has been a journalist with The Age since 2004.
Teacher pay scale plan denied
Jewel Topsfield Minister for the Teaching Profession Peter Hall has denied budgeting for a reduction in the number of teachers who move up the pay scale every year but said he would be disappointed if the...
No cash for Gonski funding in Budget
Jewel Topsfield The Victorian governnment did not commit a single dollar for the Gonski school funding reforms in the state budget despite Prime Minister Julia Gillard's deadline that states and territories sign up...
Teachers accuse union of sellout over pay deal
Jewel Topsfield The education union is facing a backlash from some teachers who warn they will vote against the pay deal announced this week amid concerns the claim they would receive a 16 to 20 per cent pay rise is...
Independent schools could receive windfall of $91m
Jewel Topsfield Independent schools would receive more than $90.8 million a year if reforms were fully implemented.
No agreement on teachers' pay dispute
Jewel Topsfield The Victorian government and education union have failed to reach an agreement this afternoon on the teacher pay dispute despite flagging they intended to finalise an agreement by the start of term...
Restraints 'in breach' of child rights
Jewel Topsfield Children with disabilities being restrained, placed in solitary confinement, parents say.
Teachers to suspend industrial action
Jewel Topsfield and Benjamin Preiss Victorian state teachers will suspend controversial industrial action including rolling half-day strikes, a ban on unpaid overtime, and comments in report cards after significant progress was made in...
18 months after toilet furore, principal won't return
Jewel Topsfield Former Kew Primary principal Kim Dray, who stood down in 2011 amid controversy over a radical toileting policy, will not return to the school.
Baillieu's school plan spoiler
Jewel Topsfield Ted Balllieu has torpedoed the Gillard government's school reforms, announcing his own plan for education funding amid fears the Commonwealth proposal would leave many Victorian schools significantly...
Children missing out on disability services
Jewel Topsfield More than 1000 Victorian preschool children have been on waiting lists for early intervention services such as speech and occupational therapy for longer than three months, with some missing out...
Former school directors to court
Jewel Topsfield Three former directors of Mowbray College summonsed to appear in the Supreme Court.
New schools on hold due to funding uncertainty
Jewel Topsfield Twelve Catholic schools planned for Melbourne's booming outer suburbs on hold.
Teachers union hits state's 'irresponsible' ads
Jewel Topsfield THE Victorian education department has been accused of acting irresponsibly.
VCE scores changed over Battle Tech Marauder confusion
Jewel Topsfield One hundred and thirty confused VCE history students had their scores adjusted after an artwork featuring a mysterious robot who appeared to be assisting socialist revolutionaries in 1917 was...
Legal move launched over teacher strike threat
Jewel Topsfield The Baillieu government has launched legal action against teachers' industrial action despite being in the middle of negotiations.
Teachers' dispute bad for business on the Surf Coast
Jewel Topsfield The bitter stoush over school camps and excursions is affecting local economies.
World their oyster with baccalaureate scores in
Jewel Topsfield Three Lauriston Girls' School students have obtained perfect scores in the International Baccalaureate diploma this Friday.
Fears easy option will push maths decline
Jewel Topsfield An easier maths subject will be introduced in years 11 and 12 under the national curriculum.
Schools to face closer scrutiny
Jewel Topsfield Private schools will have enrolments monitored for steady declines in student numbers.
Frankston school closes because it can't pay bills
Jewel Topsfield A Coptic Christian school in Frankston North has gone into administration after failing to meet the college's debt.
