Minister sees sense on quartile reporting

By Jennifer Leete

Education Minister Carmel Tebbutt confirmed she has changed her mind on the inclusion of quartiles in student written reports when she met with the Public Education Alliance on October 31.

On August 15 Premier Morris Iemma had announced a graphic showing student achievement by quartiles for each key learning area (KLA) would be included in written reports for primary students, as the Federal Government had made it a condition of federal funding for 2005-2008.

The Minister's change of mind follows announcements by education ministers in Victoria and South Australia that they would not be including quartiles in their reports.

It also follows intensive lobbying efforts by the Federation, primary and secondary principals and the Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations.

Ms Tebbutt first announced to the Primary Principals Association Conference that quartiles would not be included, but at the meeting with the Public Education Alliance on October 31 further details were provided.

Minister Tebbutt indicated quartiles are dead and gone. The form of ranking she is proposing is for schools to report on the A, B, C, D or E grade achieved by each student and, when asked by parents, indicate the percentage of students who achieved each grade. That is, a student might achieve a 'D' in a group in which 50 per cent achieved grade 'A' and so on. Each report would indicate that the student's achievement compared with the cohort was available. Words such as "this information is available to parents on request" would go on each report.

By linking ranking to grades, the ranking information that is given to parents will rely on the qualitative judgements of teachers. The Minister seemed quite prepared to rely on the professionalism of teachers and schools rather than impose a structure.

Public Education Alliance members also raised with the Minister further concerns about the reporting requirements including the application of grades across all KLAs and the very detailed written comments which seem to be expected for each KLA. There was an agreement that there would be further discussion with DET officers on those issues.

November Council will consider the Federation's response to these developments.

Jennifer Leete is the Deputy President.

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