What is the purpose of internal (i.e. by schools) reporting in the compulsory years in your state/territory?

Schools report regularly to parents to inform them of the progress of their child in the context of the designated outcomes based developmental continuum in each of the eight learning areas (formerly the nationally developed Profiles, which are soon to be replaced by the Curriculum Standards). The form of this reporting is decided at the local level.

Schools report a range of data, including learner achievement data, to their communities through their Annual Reports. Schools are assisted in this process through the Office of Review.

Schools have previously (in 1997 and 1998) reported to State Office on the progress of a sample of students against outcome based developmental continua (nationally developed Profiles) in designated learning areas. A Curriculum Accountability Discussion Paper is currently available for consultation. Future statewide reporting requirements against the Curriculum Standards will be established as a result of this consultation.

What is the purpose of external (i.e. by systems/Board/Council) reporting in the compulsory years in your state/territory? (if any)

• South Australia reported Year 3 Reading data to the Commonwealth in 2000 as part of its commitment to the National Literacy and Numeracy Plan.
• Student achievement data is used in the department’s annual report to Parliament.
• The department reports statewide data on students’ achievement in the Basic Skills Test at Years 3 and 5, through the Chief Executive to the Minister, in order to gauge the impact of statewide literacy and numeracy development programs. This is also done on a limited basis in regards to the Writing Assessment.
• In 1997 and 1998, State Office published the results of the statewide Profiles data collection in order to guide future systemic planning, and to provide a context within which schools could compare the achievement of their students. Curriculum Standards data will be used in future and processes for doing this are currently being consulted on.

What information is currently reported externally?

For 1999/2000, data derived from the Basic Skills Test and the (sample based) Writing Assessment is reported externally.

How is the information reported?

This is reported in aggregated form and is disaggregated by gender, age, Aboriginality, and language spoken at home.

What agency is responsible for external reporting?

The responsibility for reporting student achievement data is shared between the Curriculum Policy Directorate and the Strategic Planning and Information Directorate within the department