Category: League Tables and Testing

Parents are becoming more and more disillusioned with the NAPLAN tests. New figures released by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) show record withdrawal rates from the tests across Australia and in most states/territories this year. It suggests that increasing numbers of parents realise that NAPLAN is not compulsory and are unwilling to put their children through the high stress associated with the tests in schools nowadays.

Continue reading “Parents Are Becoming More Disillusioned With NAPLAN”

There was little joy in the preliminary NAPLAN results published last month. Writing continued to decline in all Year levels while reading and numeracy have stagnated. The results are very uneven across the country with NSW, Victoria and the ACT generally achieving significantly higher results than other jurisdictions. Continue reading “NAPLAN Results Provide Little Joy and Much Concern”

A Western Australian primary school principal has distributed an inspiring letter to his students following the release of the recent NAPLAN results, telling them the tests are “unable to measure all of what it is that makes you the valued person that you are”. Continue reading “Inspiring Letter From a Principal on NAPLAN”

New research has refuted claims that differences in teacher quality are the primary reason for the large difference in international test results between Shanghai and Australia. It shows that Chinese immigrant students in Australia (and New Zealand) achieve similar math scores to students in Shanghai. The study suggests that culture appears to have been more important than national policies: Continue reading “Australia’s Chinese Students do as well as Shanghai Students”

What exactly do standardized tests test? In this post US educator Marion Brady answers that question and its consequences for teaching and learning. Continue reading “What Do Standardized Tests Actually Test?”

It seems that the campaign to inform parents of their right to withdraw their child from the NAPLAN tests is having some effect.

The West Australian reported this week that withdrawal rates increased in WA in 2013. Parents of more than 1400 WA students signed withdrawal forms to stop their children from sitting national reading, writing and maths tests. Continue reading “NAPLAN Withdrawal Rates Increase in WA, but Many Parents are Still in the Dark about their Right to Withdraw”

In a revealing article in the Brisbane Courier-Mail, a private school teacher says he cheats on the NAPLAN tests. He cheats by doing practice preparation for the tests to be held in two weeks.

The teacher confirms what everyone except the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) knows – much of first and early second term is taken up with practice for NAPLAN at the expense of deep analysis within subjects and less time spent on subjects not tested. Continue reading “Teacher Says He Cheats on NAPLAN Tests”

It’s testing season in America, and regardless of how the students do, it’s clear who is already flunking the exams.

Last week in New York, new standardized tests began rolling out across the state, and tens of thousands of families said “no dice.”

Continue reading “More on the Storm of Protest in the US Against Testing”

The new testing season in the United States has seen a wave of parent protests against testing in the last few weeks. Thousands of parents have opted to take their children out of statewide tests across the country.

There have been high-profile boycotts and rallies across the country, including in large school districts such as Chicago and New York, to promote the right of parents to withdraw their children from the tests. Parents complain that the tests are unnecessary, excessive, and are harming their children’s education. Continue reading “Wave of Protest Against Testing”

The 2014 NAPLAN tests are on in just four weeks. Save Our Schools is again collecting information on the impact of NAPLAN on students, teachers and schools.

Tell us your stories and information about the effects of NAPLAN in your school. Use the “Contact Us” facility on the Save Our Schools website. If you would like to provide more detailed information and stories please contact us to arrange another address to send your information. Continue reading “What is Happening with NAPLAN in Your School?”