Student Reports - Fact Sheet: Changes to Student Reports in 2007

Recent changes to the student report cards will affect all Prep to Year 10 students studying at approximately 1500 government primary and secondary schools (specialist schools excluded). The changes affect the areas of mathematics, the assessment of Prep students and the A rating.

What changes have been made?

The changes will give parents an even clearer picture of their child’s progress in mathematics. Rather than one overall A to E rating and one solid dot, there will be a separate A to E rating and dot for each of the areas of mathematics (space, number, measurement, chance and data, working mathematically and structure).

For all areas studied, a top ‘B’ rating will now become an ‘A’, with around 2 per cent more students expected to receive an ‘A’ rating this year.

It will now be a school based decision as to whether an A-E rating is used for Prep students. All other information for Prep students will continue to be required – what a student has achieved, areas for improvement, how the school will support them.

What impact will this have on schools?

The impact to schools will be minimal. Schools will receive advice this term on how to download an upgraded version of the software. Support and resources are available to teachers and teachers will be advised of the details through circulars to schools.

When will these changes take place?

The changes will take effect for the first semester reports issued in June. Information for use in school newsletters, providing comprehensive details for parents about the changes and more information about the A to E ratings was distributed to schools in February. A circular informing school principals and school councils about the refinements to the report cards has been sent to schools.

A software patch to upgrade Department provided reporting software will be available for schools before the end of Term 1.

Why have these changes been made?

New student reports cards were introduced in 2006 to provide consistent and clear information to parents about their child’s achievement against statewide standards.

Monitoring was an integral part of the report’s implementation. Hence the Department sought feedback from educators, parents and school communities. The refinements are our response to this feedback.