Dear Minister,

As parents, teachers and principals we welcome the Australian Government’s commitment to lift the achievement of all our students through the provision of quality education in schools.

In striving to meet that commitment, we all recognise that it requires strong evidence-based policy decisions around quality teacher training, skilled teachers in all schools, the provision of a curriculum which meets the needs of all students, and support for school communities as they work to provide the very best education for their  children. Any change must be managed with care and driven by sound evidence.

We are writing to you because of our shared concern that one aspect of your program threatens to harm the future opportunities of Australian students. There is, we believe, a serious risk to school communities – students, staff and parents – through the publication of school data by ACARA.

Click here to download the complete letter in a pdf file.

Colleagues,

Following the inaugural Principals Forum held at Parliament House last week, I thought it appropriate to offer you some short updates on our activities and focus.

Click here to download the complete Update in a pdf file.

Accountability Testing and League Tables
We remain totally opposed to the misuse of data from NAPLAN tests by the media or other agencies. These are point in time tests, which are not designed to make comprehensive judgment on the performance of a student yet alone of a school. We are part of a coalition that is engaged in a range of activities highlighting the potential damage the misuse of this data can impart. We have brokered meetings with the DPM’s office, and with State and Territory departments, trying to seek legislative and legal protection from our political leaders. I can report to this point without success. We have been part of panels, conferences and forums highlighting the issue. We have appeared in multiple media outlets on the issue.

A letter to the DPM will be distributed to every Australian Government School in the coming weeks. It will be badged by the AEU, Australian Government Primary Principals Association (AGPPA), Independent Education Union, the parent groups, and us. Please highlight its contents with your staff, student and parent communities.

We are working with major media outlets seeking a voluntary sign up to an ethical creed – which will gain a commitment not to create League Tables.

The ASPA Conference in Adelaide finished yesterday. Thanks to everyone involved in organising the conference - it was a great success! And thanks to the delegates who attended - you made the atmosphere at the conference very positive, both professionally and personally.

The conference report is being published over the next few days - presentation files, audio recordings (streamed and downloadable), photo gallery with 196 photos. Session notes from the keynote addresses will be added soon. Click here to go to the Conference report page.

Congratulations to Sheree Vertigan (Tasmania), who will be ASPA President for 2010-11, and Rob Nairn (Western Australia), who will be ASPA Deputy President for 2010.

Congratulations to the two new ASPA Life Members:

• Andrew Blair, currently ASPA President.

• John See, who has been the ASPA representative in Canberra since 2000.