Reporting school performance information
Frequently Asked Questions for parents and guardians
Why has the new system been introduced?
The Australian Government has set new regulations for State and Territory education systems to make school performance information publicly available to all parents.
What will be reported?
Professional engagement reporting includes: staff attendance and retention; teacher qualifications; expenditure and teacher participation in professional learning
Key student outcomes reporting includes: student attendance; percentage of students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 achieving national literacy and numeracy benchmarks for their year level; changes in benchmark results from previous year; value added (ie descriptive information on programs and initiatives that gave students educational support during the year); average standardised assessment results for Year 9 and 10 students; senior secondary outcomes; proportion of Year 9 students retained to Year 12; and post‑school destinations.
What is the new system for reporting school performance information?
The new reporting system requires schools to make school performance information publicly available and provide it to all parents in at least two of the following formats:
- school annual report (hard copy)
- school newsletter (hard copy)
- school handbook (hard copy)
- on the internet using a URL address provided to parents
- a billboard or sign, clearly visible to the public inside or outside the school.
Will reporting be consistent across all schools?
Yes, all schools are required to report on the same areas. However individual schools will be able to choose the formats in which they provide the information.
Are all schools required to report?
Yes. However, small schools (one to three teachers) under the management of a Group School Principal will report school performance information as part of the Group School.
What will change?
The new system makes it compulsory for all schools to make performance information publicly available and to provide it to parents. Schools will still be required to produce a school annual report
When will the new system commence?
Schools will report performance information from 2006 – that is, reporting on the 2006 school year in 2007.
When will I receive the information?
The information must be available within six months after the end of each school year.
How can I find out more information?
The principal of your school can provide you with the information you need.