[Greens-Media] NAPLAN wrecked by high stakes results

[John Kaye]

NAPLAN wrecked by high stakes results

Media release:  14 May 2013

The diagnostic benefits of the NAPLAN tests have been undermined by the My
School website and private schools that use the results to screen
prospective students, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye

As year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students across NSW prepare themselves for the first
day of nation-wide testing, Dr Kaye said: "What should have been a
diagnostic tool to identify students who needed additional help has become
a yardstick for schools and a status symbol for some parents.

"Along the way, educational outcomes are being compromised and children are
unnecessarily suffering stress.

"The high stakes resting on the outcomes has, predicably, driven schools
and parents into a frenzy of preparation that robs the rest of education of
time and effort.

"The My School website puts unreasonable pressure on teachers to prepare
their students and compromise the diagnostic value of the test.

"Private schools that demand parents supply their children's NAPLAN results
as part of the application process are creating an industry in test
tutoring.

"Instead of assisting teachers to find students who have not mastered the
age-appropriate range of basic skills, the test has become an ordeal for
young people and an expensive drain on classroom time.

"Australia was warned that the My School website would damage teaching and
learning as schools  were pressured into maximising their NAPLAN results by
sacrificing time on other parts of the curriculum to prepare their students.

"When he was in opposition, Education Minister Adrian Piccoli joined with
the Greens in sounding the alarm on the impacts of ranking schools by their
NAPLAN results.

"He listened to the warnings coming from the UK and the USA. Both the
Greens and the Coalition were worried about the impacts on schools serving
disadvantaged communities and the way the results would mislead parents and
the community.

"He now has the power to take the pressure off students and their teachers
by re-negotiating the deal that allowed the Federal government to publish
the results on the My School website.

"The O'Farrell government should stand by its principled position in
opposition and get tough with the Federal government over the damage Julia
Gillard's obsession with ranking schools is inflicting on education and
students," Dr Kaye said.

For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455

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John Kaye
Greens NSW MP
phone: 0407 195 455
web: www.john.nsw.greens.org.au
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