March 2010     A new survey of principals revealing the damaging impact of league tables on students, teachers and schools has highlighted the urgent need for the Federal Government to stop league tables and the misuse of student data.

The AEU is calling on the Federal Government to put politics aside and sit down with the teaching profession and work out a way to prevent the creation and publication of any further league tables.

Released today, the AEU’s survey of over 1,000 principals reveals high levels of concerns about league tables and the accuracy of information on the My School website.
Among those principals who said their school was named in a newspaper league table this year:

• 51 per cent said being named in a league table will have a negative impact on their students. Among those listed in the bottom section of a league table the figure rose to 78 per cent
• 58 per cent said being named in a league table will have a negative impact on the school’s reputation. Among those listed in the bottom section of a league table the figure rose to 84 per cent
• 68 per cent said being named in a league table will have a negative impact on staff. Among those listed in the bottom section the figure rose to 87 per cent

AEU federal president Angelo Gavrielatos said the survey showed league tables were damaging school communities.

“Stigmatising schools and school communities based on a single test makes it harder to lift student performance and retain teachers."

Mr Gavrielatos said over 90 per cent of principals who completed the survey were concerned that nothing was done to stop the creation and publication of league tables using average scores on the My School website.

“The survey also reveals deep concern about the My School website with 88 per cent of principals saying they do not believe that it presents an accurate picture of school performance.

“A majority of principals (61 per cent) said public comparisons of test scores on My School will lead to greater teaching to the test and over 80 per cent of those principals said it would be to the detriment of other areas of the curriculum.”

“Unless the Federal Government acts to stop the misuse of data and protect students from league tables teachers cannot cooperate with the next round of national testing in May,” Mr Gavrielatos said.

“The AEU supports the provision of accurate, valid and meaningful information to parents and the community in a way that supports school improvement.”

From information provided by the Australian Education Union, March 25 2010