Launch of the My School website in January 2010
The launch of the My School website will mark a new era in Australian education. For the first time, the community will be able to view profiles and data on students’ performance within all Australian schools in one location.
This information will be accessible in different formats. Searches can be made by school location, sector or name. On this site, each school will have a dedicated profile page displaying a range of information. The website will make students’ school results in the National Assessment Program—Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) available for each school.
The website will enable meaningful and fair comparisons of results in statistically similar schools across Australia. It will thereby provide information and support the school community in meaningful discussion on students’ school results.
Currently, the My School website contains Fact Sheets, answers to Frequently Asked Questions and a PowerPoint presentation with more information.
After the launch of the My School website, due on 28 January 2010:
- a school profile page will be available for public viewing, and
- the My School Video and the My School Information Booklet will be available for download, and will also be mailed to schools.
After the launch date, the website will be available to the public at www.myschool.edu.au. The following resources are now available for the community on the My School website :
Fact Sheet: About My School
The My School Fact Sheet describes the content of the My School website. It highlights the features of the website, including the information on the school profile page. It outlines what will be visible on the website and includes a snapshot of a school using nationally consistent indicators of student performance and statistically similar schools.
For more information download About My School fact sheet (pdf, 87kb)
Fact Sheet: About NAPLAN
The About NAPLAN Fact Sheet describes the National Assessment Program—Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) and its significance for Australian schools. It includes information on participation, how the tests are administered and how NAPLAN reporting works in practice.
For more information download About NAPLAN fact sheet (pdf, 193kb)
Fact Sheet: Interpreting NAPLAN results
The Interpreting NAPLAN Results Fact Sheet explains why NAPLAN results are reported and the limitations of NAPLAN results. NAPLAN tests sample only a part of what students learn during the year, so it is important to find out more about the whole curriculum of the school and the students' performance within the school across a range of areas.
For more information download
Interpreting NAPLAN results fact sheet (pdf, 84kb)
Fact Sheet: About ICSEA
The About ICSEA Fact Sheet describes the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) as a complex measure developed to enable meaningful and fair comparisons to be made across schools. The Fact Sheet outlines how statistically similar schools are identified and types of schools where an ICSEA value is not appropriate.
For more information download About ICSEA fact sheet (pdf, 86kb) and FAQs (pdf, 294kb)
Video and Information Booklet
ACARA will produce a video that takes you on a virtual tour of the My School website.
The My School video summarises the content on the My School website, explains statistically similar schools and NAPLAN, and how to interpret the colour-coded results.
Information Booklet
ACARA will produce an Information Booklet about ACARA and the My School website. It explains the My School website and ACARA's role in Australian curriculum, assessment and reporting and the international assessment context. It will discuss how the national curriculum, assessment and reporting initiative complements teachers' judgement. It will also outline the future work of ACARA in, for instance, the National Assessment Program.
ACARA engages with state and territory jurisdictions at Communication Forum
On Thursday 26 November, ACARA met with representatives from state and territory jurisdictions to mark out a way forward for communications with all state, Catholic and independent schools in the upcoming months. With the release of the My School website in January, all participants were eager to have an accurate and consistent response to school and media enquiries on My School related issues.
The Forum enabled ACARA to provide school jurisdictions with up-to-date information on the My School website. Discussions focused on ensuring that school principals receive enough information within the limited time available to adequately prepare for the launch of the My School website.
At the Forum, participants shared stories from their home states, including what has worked in effective communication and what lessons have been learnt. Meetings such as these are intended to improve the quality of shared information and to facilitate meaningful discussions with the school and wider community.
The Forum resulted in ACARA producing further resources for school principals and parents, and strengthening ties between the state and territory school sectors/systems. ACARA expects to be in close contact with all communication representatives over the coming months.
ACARA engages with Directors of Curriculum on the development of the Australian curriculum
On Monday 7 December, ACARA met with the Directors of Curriculum from state and territory curriculum and education authorities in the government and non-government sector. Discussion focused on the draft K-10 Australian curriculum for English, mathematics, science and history, as well as ACARA’s online publication; the details of the planned consultation processes; and progress in curriculum development for geography, languages and the arts.
Participants shared information, plans for consultation and progress on implementation.
"All states and territories have strategies in place to support the consultation process from mid February next year and to communicate information to teachers and other stakeholders," said Robert Randall, General Manager, Curriculum, at ACARA.
ACARA will continue to work with the states and territories to ensure that clear and up-to-date information is communicated on a regular basis, and that the opportunities continue for stakeholders to be involved at key stages in the curriculum development process.
ACARA encourages everyone to remain up-to-date with progress in its work in developing the Australian curriculum by registering for the ACARA e-alert system. In the first instance, questions regarding implementation should be directed to the relevant education authorities in each state and territory.
A reminder that ACARA will release the draft curriculum for K-10 English, mathematics, science and history in mid February and seek public consultation to May 2010. ACARA encourages your participation during this consultation period.
ACARA has appointed lead writers for the initial advice papers on geography, languages and the arts
ACARA is pleased to announce the appointment of lead writers for geography (Associate Professor Alaric Maude), languages (Associate Professor Angela Scarino) and the arts (Professor John O’Toole).
The lead writers have been selected on the basis of their discipline expertise and their significant contribution to the respective education field. They will play a critical role in developing the Australian curriculum.
Geography
Alaric Maude is an Associate Professor of Geography (retired since April 2004 with full academic status) at Flinders University. He is the 2009 Distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Australian Geographers and is a member of the Steering Committee of the Towards a National Geography Curriculum Project. Alaric has also made a longstanding contribution to geography in South Australia as a teacher and through his research and development work on syllabus review and subject accreditation panels. View Professor Maude's CV
Languages
Currently an Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics in the School of Communication, International Studies and Languages at the University of South Australia, Angela Scarino has extensive experience (nationally and internationally) in the conceptualisation, design, implementation and evaluation of curriculum and assessment for languages. Angela is also the Director of the Research Centre for Languages and Cultures at the university, and has worked on a number of high-level research and development projects in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and New Zealand. View Professor Scarino's CV
The Arts
As Australia’s first professor of Arts Education, John O’Toole has spent over thirty years teaching and researching in Colleges of Advanced Education and Universities, and has taught and demonstrated arts pedagogy and curriculum at all levels from pre-school to adult. Currently John is the Foundation Chair of Arts Education at the University of Melbourne. He spent 12 years teaching in secondary schools and has been involved in the development of many drama and arts education organisations in Australia including Drama Australia and Drama Queensland. In 2001, John was awarded the American Alliance for Theatre and Education Award for Lifetime Achievement. View Professor O'Toole's biography
The lead writers, with the support of expert advisory groups, will draft an initial advice paper which will propose a broad outline of the curriculum for K-12, and provide specific curriculum design advice to guide the subsequent drafting process.
Following public consultation on the initial advice papers, draft Shape of the Australian Curriculum papers for Geography, Languages and the Arts respectively will be prepared for consultation. The Shape of the Australian Curriculum papers are foundational documents that guide the curriculum writing process.