National Standards Data as Ropey as Ever

Media Release 11 June 2013
Attention: Education and Political Reporters
For Immediate Release

National Standards Data as Ropey as Ever

Today’s claims by the Prime Minister about national standards data are as ropey as the data itself, claims the President of the New Zealand Principals’ Federation, Philip Harding.

‘Last year the Prime Minister acknowledged that the data was “ropey” and we are wondering what he thinks has happened to change that in the meantime?’ said Harding

‘To assert to the public that there are measurable gains in national achievement based on national standards data is outrageous and completely misleading. The national standards are so imprecise, every school in the country makes their own judgement about what they think they mean and how to measure them. The variability from one school to another is huge,’ says Harding.

The research of Professor Martin Thrupp of Waikato University into national standards confirms that the data is not national and it is not standard. He also warns that the standards are having a negative impact on the delivery of a broadly based curriculum”.

‘This is a worrying finding given that every experienced professional will assert that to lift the achievement of children struggling to succeed it is necessary to find alternative pathways to learning, and it our world class broad curriculum that can help us do that,’ said Harding.

‘If the Prime Minister is serious about making a difference for kids who are not succeeding then it is time he sat down with the professionals to talk about what really makes a difference for children’s learning,’ said Harding, ‘because the answer will never be found in national standards.’

ENDS

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