Parents
I want to know how well my children are doing compared to other children of the same age. But whether I like it or not, I want to be told the truth.
Christina Blackbourn, parent at Coatesville School
Parents receive information about their child's progress through both formal and informal means.
Formal reporting
The purpose of a school report is to:
- show the actual level of attainment or measure the school itself uses to monitor progress
- comment, with examples, on this attainment means in terms of progress and what the next learning steps might be.
A school report should have the following characteristics:
- presented in a professional, meaningful manner and in a format appropriate for the age and stage of the student
- brief and constructive
- provided at intervals that parents feel are appropriate
- easily understood
- responsive to cultural and language needs such as those for whom English is a second language
- based on substantive gathered and documented evidence
- cover the essential learning areas and skills of the New Zealand curriculum
- comment on attitudes, values, skills, and knowledge
- recognise student strengths and interests
- supportive of effective learning and teaching
- clearly inform about actual student progress and achievement.
These characteristics are based on Reporting Student Achievement, an Education Review Office report (1996)
covering issues for schools and policy makers.
I like the main reports where there are levels given. You can look at the progress graph on the back and see where your child fits in on the national scale. Having a level mark and an effort mark that are backed up by a comment is very useful. I think you need all three things to get a good overall picture.
James Penfold, parent at Coatesville School 2001
Informal reporting
Parents gain information through discussions with their children and by looking through portfolios,
exercise books, or other examples of student learning.
Discussion and partnership
With valid assessment information parents can enter into dialogue with the school about:
- supporting learning at home
- learning goals that are appropriate for their child.
School should have a clearly documented, understood, and implemented system of reporting which:
- ensures parents receive information about their children in a timely fashion
- checks levels of parental satisfaction with the information available about the students
- provides opportunities for parents to discuss their child's progress with the teacher or principal
- encourages parents to work in partnership with the school.
Further reading
Proving
effectiveness
Hibiscus Coast Intermediate has developed a streamlined system for reporting data about achievement.
SEMO Evaluation Report 1 - Chapter 4: Partnership through school reports (Word format 93kb)
This describes a project that uses school reports to involve parents in solving literacy problems.
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