ABCDiamond

I just had to go and find some of my daughters old home work stuff. She was using joined writing in year 3 in QLD.

NickyC

Same here with my kids in NSW. I learned joined-up writing in the first form of primary school in the UK (strange, long memory I have) - and my kids did it here at EXACTLY the same stage of their schooling.

Kim67

My kids were in private and catholic education in QLD and WA. They are now going to an International school in Dubai with kids from all over the world. They are doing as well, if not better than most of their peers, including the British. In fact, we have specialist maths teachers from Singapore who are taking a look at the Go Maths books from Australia and implementing some ideas into their class work.

NKSK version 2

It's the lottery of the Australian system which makes it so deplorable.

You may get a good teacher. You may not.

And there is little you can do about it - and in many cases little you might know about it until too late.

Safin

Can anyone tell me where to access (QLD) school comparison tables ?

ABCDiamond

The best that is "currently" available is the "Year 12 school outcomes 2007" report. I have a pdf copy if you need one.

It isn't an ideal comparison method though. If the full NAPLAN results were published, by school, that would be much better.

Safin

I've found that one ta and have been looking for the Naplan by school - so stupid they don't publish it. It might tell you how your kid is doing nationally but not which schools are achieving decent standards - not unless you have access to every child's results - oh Naplan have that !!!!!!

Been looking for primary comparisons not high school. After all thats where they learn the basics

Safin

Found out on the Naplan website that they DO do class and school reports. http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/downloads/...porting_08.pdf

Now trying to find out where they are published or if they keep them secret and not let us parents see them.

If they don't publish I plan to ask the local schools if they are prepared to let me see their results (and in my son's school if not why not?)

hoveactually

Couldn't agree more with NKSK. I live in the northern suburbs of Perth and have 3 children in what is supposed to be a "good" state primary school. My experience is, that it is a complete lottery when it comes to the standards of teaching here - even within different classes in the same year group. I, too, take an active role in my children's education but it is very difficult when there are no set standards to work to other than some vague "levels" which can be achieved at any stage during the primary school years. Only with the introduction of NAPLAN this year and the publication of some sample questions have I been able to get some insight into what is expected, at least in years 3,5,7 &9. The actual test questions are not available to parents in WA although this information is given as a matter of course to parents in other states.
It's all very well to tell parents to get involved but when I questioned the disparity between the level of difficulty of the national tests and the work my year 5 child is being given to do on a weekly basis, an already strained relationship with the class teacher degenerated to the point where she will no longer speak to me! A simple solution would be to move to another school you would think. Unfortunately, all the local private schools are full for year 5 and the 2 other state schools I would have been prepared to move to won't take children outside their catchment area.
Finally, on the subject of handwriting, year 5 children at my children's school do not use joined up writing and are only allowed to write in pencil. My children have also found writing in the required font (Victorian Cursive?) an issue with its open bs and ps etc. Goodness knows why WA insists on using this style.

ABCDiamond

Your sons school should give you a copy. Our school posted a copy to each parent a few weeks ago.

I "think" that the class and school reports are only for the individual schools, but I hope I am wrong.

Safin

I got my son's report but I want to see class summary (not individual results) ideally and definately the school report.

Why shouldn't the school tell us how they are doing? In previous years they gave school results under the old system. Although you have to look up each school individually rather than a published table like the yr 12 one.

Maybe they plan to do it at the end of year when they do the annual school reporting

NKSK version 2

And this very muddying of the waters is what people moving to Australia should be very concerned about.

NKSK version 2

Good points.

I've gone through the same thought process. I queried why she was being tested on aspects which she'd not been taught - at least not by the school.

I've found the least stressful route is to teach her myself. She stays in the top 2 or 3 in the class but it is hard work - Christ knows what will happen when she gets to Y12 - not sure I can cope with calculus.

And again, pls don't think that private schools will be a panacea. I know of a top girls school in Perth whose junior school is so bad at teaching Maths that by the time the girls get to the senior school they are amongst the worst performing of all the feeder primary schools - including the state schools.

How would that feel after you'd been parting with around $9000 per year for the last 7 years?

NKSK version 2

Because that will make the schools and the teachers accountable.
And Australian schools (and state governments) don't like accountability - it shows up their flaws.

Gibbo

This accountability thing really bothers me when it is used in reference to a school. The problem is all children do not have the same ability. This is something that parents are not, quite often, able to accept. Instead of asking for school wide accountability they should, in my opinion, be asking is the school/teacher enabling my child to reach his/her potential.