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I went to the edu site Pandora. Nelle at this point it is only based on reading, writing, spelling, grammar and numeracy. There is talk that they will include the funding that each school gets with the view that funding = results, but I highly doubt that will go ahead because it really wont look good for the govt if they let people see the pittance they give to govt schools compared to private schools.
Nothing like a cuddle from DD after a hard day's work!
My husband doesnt believe in the stats. After looking at it (yesterday) i kept thinking all night whether to send DD one 10mins down the road from us in a diff suburb or one 5mins down the road from us. The 10 mins one was way above average, the 5 mins was ok.
The catholic school we were thinking about was also performing avg only.
But i guess things will change in 3 yrs time (seeing gthat DD is only 22mths)
Looked at my old high school too and it was like way below avg!!! LOL as expected though.
BellyBelly Life Subscriber
Not a fan of these test as they are just done on the day and not over time. Some kids so really well while others get flustered and do really bad. Also it makes it really hard to believe these figures as there are many schools who have children with poor English due to their backgrounds, like not being in the country long. These students must be at a disadvantage when it comes to these tests.
I think the best way to get a feel for a school is talk to parents who are already there.
Especially secondary schools, the amount of students who go to Uni or get jobs tells you they are getting them ready for the next step.
Registered User
The part I found difficult is where they compare your school with those that are "statistically similar"...WTH is that supposed to mean? There wasn't really any qualification of how that comparison is made, kwim? Also, I tried to find the explanation for the socioeconomic number that was given, but the link just looped around to the same page.
2013 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.
I think it's a silly site. Basically, all you are comparing is how well the students performed in a test on one day of the school year. How well students perform in tests has NOTHING to do with how 'well' the teachers teach, or how 'good' a school is. A school with above average results can just mean that most of the students take tests well. A school with below acverage results doesn't mean that the students aren't learning, or that teachers are ineffective. It can just means that the students don't take tests well.
Which I'm pretty sure is the 'outrage'.
Definitely take the ratings with a grain of salt.
Registered User
I think you hit the nail on the head.
Whilst I agree with parents having more knowledge in the their choices they make for their children, these league tables and this website is the wrong way to go about it.
I think parents would be better informed if they speak to other parents at the school to see how they view the school, speak to the children that attend the school to get their opinions, and speak to staff at a school.
This puts so much pressure on students. Imagine how those kids feel who were down the bottom of the league tables that have been created feel. Way to lift their already fragile self esteems. Your results are the worst in the state, etc.
The stats are pretty crap. We had a huge meeting about it with our prinicipal late last year, and there is so much that doesn't get taken into account. She was not happy with it as well as a lot of other school prinicipal she knows. Considering it is only based on Naplan results is stupid as well. More to the school than years 3 5 7 and 9
Registered User
I have to admit, I love the site. I think it gives parents the knowledge to choose a school for their child.
The 2 schools that I went to (Primary & High school) were RED!! (So totally to be expected) DP's schools were also red!
DD goes to a private school - and for the fee's we pay each year I expect the results to be good. After all this is just the BASIC reading writing numeracy & gram! If kids are not learning the basics, they will fall through the cracks and this is where the issue starts. My cousin goes to a public school (the one i went to as a child) and when my DD was in year 1 they were doing the same work! (My cuz is a grade above DD) DD also had a few small issues with learning how to tell the time (last year - which was grade 2), fractions and working out her change when she bought something, she understood what she had to do and with intervention with a support group for a month and me giving her examples of using fractions etc in everyday living helped her
I also agree that you need to go to the school and see for yourself what the school 'feels' like. I know from the moment I went into DD's school it was so warm and welcoming. The entire staff @ DD's school GENUINELY care about their wellbeing & education, it's not just a pay packet for them!
I am also the first person to stand up for the public/state schools regarding the funding. Parents in private schools pay a substantial amount (DD's school covers ALL excursions, textbooks, teachers wages, stationary etc, we only need to buy her uniforms) each year and not everyone can afford to send their children to a private school, and the kids should not be behind just because they go to a public school! eeach child deserves to have a good education (and WTH is the government thinking by funding a private school 42 mil when it only has 16 kids!?!?!?!?!?!? I am sure there are many other public schools that could have used that money!)
The other thing that also annoyed me - when the 'school stimulus' was given DD's school started the work straight away - the public school down the road has only just begun!! i doubt they were given as much money as DD's school which is so unfair.
Sorry for the lonnnnnnnnnng post - but thats my 2 cents
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