DET misinformation on A-E student reports prompts survey

By Wendy Currie

Prompted by numerous reports that Department of Education and Training (DET) officers have been peddling misinformation, including inaccurate statistics about how schools are reporting on student achievement, Federation distributed another survey to schools on August 30.

The union had also had reports that DET was using this misinformation to intimidate schools into abandoning decisions they had reached about what was an appropriate way to report in the context of their students and their school communities.

Federation needed information to counter DET propaganda and to reinforce the protection offered by Federation's ban. That propaganda included various statements that anything between 80 and 90 per cent of schools were compliant, statements that Federation's information suggested was inaccurate.

The union needed the information very quickly, but was amazed that more than 600 schools responded within a couple of days of the survey being distributed. At the time of writing this article, responses are still pouring in and preliminary analysis of those responses supports the Federation's position.

Understanding the pressure schools and Federation Representatives in particular are under at the moment, the union went to some lengths to design a survey that could be completed quickly and with the minimum of fuss. Federation appreciates the speed with which Federation Representatives responded. It supports the union's view that this is an issue teachers are passionate about.

The survey also included questions about the workload associated with student reports, in line with the decision of August Council.

Some teachers have asked why Federation has not negotiated a settlement. The union has made it perfectly clear to both the NSW Government and DET throughout the dispute that it is willing at any time to negotiate an appropriate outcome. They have flatly refused to do so.

Teachers should keep in mind that the Federation's ban upholds the right to school based decision-making on educational grounds and the importance of professional judgement. It also protects teachers and principals in schools that have made a decision that A-E or 'outstanding' to 'limited' reports are not educationally appropriate for their students.

Federation encourages those schools that have complied with the DET requirements, but are professionally concerned about it, to begin or continue discussions that might result in school based decisions to draw back from the DET requirements. You should do this in the knowledge that Federation will support and protect you should you decide to do so. A number of schools have already done this.

Understanding the very difficult position the government's imposition of A-E reports has placed teachers in, and respecting the right of teachers to make professional decisions about assessment and reporting, Federation once again congratulates those schools and teachers that have exercised their professional judgement and thanks you for so speedily responding to the survey.

Wendy Currie is a Research Officer.

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September 2007 contents