Schools use professional judgement about reports

By Wendy Currie

Few schools complied with the State Government's imposed A-E reporting requirements, results of a Federation survey show.

Almost 700 schools responded to Federation's survey about student reports in the last week of school, 2006. This demonstrates overcoming the government imposition on schools to produce reports that most found educationally unsound is clearly paramount.

The response demonstrates the importance teachers place on maintaining the right of schools to exercise professional judgement about how they report.

The analysis showed that while about 20 per cent of schools used A-E, and 20 per cent included a statement inviting parents to seek comparative data (not necessarily the same 20 per cent), about 65 per cent used a five point scale for some of their reports but used word descriptors, often words they devised themselves and did not say these equated to A to E.

Of those schools that used a five-point scale for only some reports, most used it only for mathematics and English and/or did not use it at all for years 1 and 2.

To suggest therefore, as the Department of Education and Training (DET) has, that NSW public schools complied with the requirements is clearly wrong. Based on the survey results, it's clear schools have determined for themselves what is an educationally sound way to report, a right Federation's campaign has been upholding. The campaign has succeeded in showing that federal funding will not be lost if schools make decisions based on the needs of their students.

Schools should be aware that although Federation has been seeking a negotiated settlement for 12 months, DET has refused to negotiate. Also, in late January, after being unsuccessful in gaining an order against the Federation, DET discontinued the case about student reports that it took to the Industrial Relations Commission.

Federation Council was due to determine the future course of the campaign on February 10. Clear advice will be sent to schools as soon after that as possible.

Wendy Currie is a Research Officer.

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February 2007 contents