Source: New Zealand Government
Parents will soon benefit from clearer, more useful information on how their child’s school is performing through an overhaul to ERO’s school reports, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.
“Parents, teachers and school boards want to celebrate the successes of their local schools and need to clearly understand any areas for improvement. To date, reports on school performance through ERO have not sufficiently focussed on the details most relevant to parents and have been dense and complicated to read and understand.
“As Minister, I’ve heard this from parents and know that too often, key challenges facing our schools, or the successes they’re achieving haven’t been evidenced through ERO’s reporting. I am pleased to be releasing a new, simplified report that is focussed on student achievement, progress and engagement and co-designed with parents to ensure fit-for-purpose reports help families to feel informed and support schools to respond.
“From Term 2, parents can expect more detail on almost twice as many topics. Reports will have clear measurements and strong, visual, easy-to-understand overviews of performance and the value that schools are adding for students.
“The new reports will recognise successes as well and provide a roadmap for improvement. They focus on the key changes that will make the most difference for students.
“ERO has engaged with schools across the country and hosted parent focus groups to gather valuable feedback, and this is apparent in the new parent focus throughout the reports.”
Ms Stanford says the new ERO reports will join the Government’s wider initiatives to lift student achievement and do the basics brilliantly including the introduction of twice yearly assessments in reading, writing and maths for Year 3–8 students, the introduction of the Phonics Check, the Year 2 maths check, and updated student reports.
“The Government’s education reforms have put educational achievement back at the centre of our education system.
“The results for children are beginning to show, and we’re ensuring parents can see exactly where their child is excelling and needing help, so that they can go with them on that journey and help them achieve their potential.
“The Government is committed to ensuring parents have detailed information to be involved in their child’s education, including through updated assessments, clear curriculum outlines, and better reporting.”
