Student report cards were introduced to provide parents with clearer and more consistent information about their student’s progress against state-wide standards.
This resource is designed to help teachers write comments for the report cards that are concise, clear and comprehensive.
Key information for teachers
Student report cards were introduced to provide parents with clearer and more consistent information about their student’s progress against state-wide standards.
The report card is a concise, commonsense report of student progress and achievement that all parents can easily understand. It describes what students have achieved against the AusVELS. It also informs parents of the areas in which their child needs to improve and states what the school will do and provides suggestions for what parents can do at home with their child.
The report is not intended to educate parents in the language of the AusVELS or any other educational framework. Jargon and specialist educational terms should not be included in the reports. Nor should it contain detailed curriculum statements or descriptions of programs of study. Parents and students should be able to identify areas where they can focus their attention and aim for improvement.
Written comments should be consistent with the judgements made and the corresponding A-E ratings. Recommendations for improvement need to be consistent. Comments about student achievement should also be provided.
The challenge for teachers is to provide all the relevant detail about students’ progress and ensure that the information on the report is clear and concise. It is important the report is coherent and there are logical links between the achievement of the student, areas for improvement and actions the school and parents might take.
It is also essential reports provide assessment information that is accurate and based on evidence from teachers’ assessment records about judgements made against the AusVELS.
Key information in the report cards
Student reports should provide the following key information:
- Clear information on what the student has achieved - this section of the report focuses on each student’s progress on the basis of assessment evidence gathered by the teacher over a semester
- Suggestions for areas of improvement the student should work on next - this section of the report focuses on future learning to be addressed in the following reporting period.
- Information on how the school will help the student to improve - this section of the report makes recommendations for actions to be taken by the school to help the student’s future learning.
- Suggestions on how parents can help the student to improve - this section of the report suggests specific ways in which parents can support the student, taking account of the areas for improvement or future learning.
Commentary on completed reports
Below is a completed report for which commentary is provided. The commentary focuses on how to write clearly and succinctly, providing relevant, valid and honest information:
Writing checklist
The following checklist is designed to help teachers review the comments they have written to ensure they are communicating the right type of information in an appropriate way for each section of the report:
Related pages
- Student Reports (Principals and Administrators) – information and resources for school leaders, including various presentations, articles and inserts to include in newsletters, and links to legislation.
- Requirements for Software Developers - includes specifications and test data for software developers wishing to undergo the compliance process to become an accredited Department software vendor.
- Sample Student Report Cards - provides descriptions of and links to sample primary and secondary report cards, report cards for English as an Additional Language Language (EAL) and Languages other than English (LOTE) students, for students with an Individual Learning Plan or using portfolios
- Reporting requirements - provides the background to the report cards, outlines the key requirements for reporting to parents, and provides more detail on specific aspects of the report card format and the reporting process.
- Personal Learning Goals - Personal learning goals are the behaviours, knowledge or understandings that students identify as important to their own learning
- Tips for writing report cards - The following tips and examples will help teachers write clear, concise and meaningful comments by focusing on avoiding unnecessary information, jargon and other specialist terms.
- Sample Report Cards – sample reports include primary and secondary, work education, Languages other than English (LOTE), English as an Additional Language (EAL), portfolios, and individual learning plans.
- Guidance for Report Coordinators - Schools have the option of using the Department's free reporting software package to create report cards, or software from commercial suppliers.
Queries or feedback on report cards
For further information about the student reports or to provide feedback, email: student.reports@edumail.vic.gov.au