New Government My School Website

kerri · 27/01/2010, 08:23 PM

Tomorrow is the launch of the new 'my school' website by the Australian Government that will enable parents to view how their school measures up. Whilst in principal it could be excellent will this lead to to schools being more selective?

A school in Melbourne my daughter went to actually asked us to keep her home when the testing was on as they knew that she would drag down their average as she has dyslexia!
What are your thoughts?

itsjustme · 27/01/2010, 11:06 PM

i think it's a great initiative of the government however circumstances where schools are asking children to stay home so they don't affect the average is wrong and there should be something (like what i don't know...) in place to police that!

Narelle78 · 28/01/2010, 08:35 PM

I've looked at the site, I don't know if it is just me or not but I don't understand it. Can anyone explain it to me please???

cole · 29/01/2010, 10:53 PM

Ive lookked at it as well.......there are average, above and below average scores, colors, numbers and more numbers ???? geeez might have to wait till Monday when DS goes back to school and ask them....do you think they will even know or know how to explain it to me ? I doubt it....pmsl

Narelle78 · 29/01/2010, 11:07 PM

Given what has been said on the news by the schools and teachers union...more is the question...will the school be willing to explain the site to the parents???

belb · 30/01/2010, 09:21 PM

I looked at the site, and was impressed.

We chose an out of area school for DS1, as we thought it would be a better fit, also we've heard nothing but praise for the school.

After looking at the site, we discovered that it's the best school in the area, even better than the private schools.

bj_angel_baby · 31/01/2010, 12:42 PM

I've had a look at this site and it came up with a runtime error within 5 minutes and now won't even load for me. I would prefer to be able to check a larger area in one search too.

lulu 2 · 01/02/2010, 05:32 PM

We have had a govt site with this info available for years in WA ,a friend got me onto it when I was looking for schools for the girls and as far as I can see its all the same info as before. I don't know what all the fuss is about. (fair enough tho about the schools trying to fudge the figures thats just pointless).

ohmygodimamum · 07/02/2010, 12:18 PM

what a good site, schools are really going to have to step up their game now. i like it

chelle3 · 20/02/2010, 09:24 PM

I have seen the site, but went into it with my eyes wide open. There is a LOT more to a school then the naplan test results. National testing is a good idea in theory, but puts a lot of pressure on the children, and sometimes stress can lead to relatively inaccurate results. I suffered from stress in exams myself.

Secondly, my eldest son went to two other schools before we settled into the school he is in now. I now have two children at this school, and would not change them. Regardless of the fact, that according to this site it is a below average school. Other factors play a part, and I for one love the passion and dedication of the teachers at the school they are in now. They are absolutely driven, and work well to make sure the children get the most out of the learning ability. That kind of passion I have not found before, and it makes it a pleasure to send my children to this school.

Another thing to consider, is that the schools that do not perform well in this national testing system actually get extra funding for the school. So there is an added bonus, in that more resources and money are thrown at these schools to make their national average increase. For schools that are hugely underfunded to begin with, this money definately helps. I am not suggesting here that some schools want to be below the national average, just saying that as a parent, consider the resources that are thrown their way.

Next, just because a school comes under, or over a national average does not mean that YOUR child is going to fall into the catergory themselves. No one can be stereotyped, and your child may actually perform really well in the school.

The environment of the school is what is most important, and how your child fits into that. On paper a school may seem like the best school to send your child, but if your child does not seem to adjust to that school then it simply is not the school for them.

One website cannot tell a parent whether a school is going to be the right fit for their child or not. Take the results with a grain of salt, but my advice is to go and talk to the schools in the area before you make a decision.

27/01/2010, 08:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
kerri Status: Founder/CEO/Top Mum! Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 2,795 Blog Entries: 2	New Government My School Website Tomorrow is the launch of the new 'my school' website by the Australian Government that will enable parents to view how their school measures up. Whilst in principal it could be excellent will this lead to to schools being more selective? A school in Melbourne my daughter went to actually asked us to keep her home when the testing was on as they knew that she would drag down their average as she has dyslexia! What are your thoughts?

27/01/2010, 11:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
itsjustme Status: Regular Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Stratton WA Posts: 1,110 Images: 3	i think it's a great initiative of the government however circumstances where schools are asking children to stay home so they don't affect the average is wrong and there should be something (like what i don't know...) in place to police that! __________________ JustMe Gayle (me) - 30 Ben (DP) - 33 Tayler - Born 05/03/08 Lincoln - Born 08/02/2010

31/01/2010, 12:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
bj_angel_baby Status: New Surfer! Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 367	I've had a look at this site and it came up with a runtime error within 5 minutes and now won't even load for me. I would prefer to be able to check a larger area in one search too. __________________

07/02/2010, 12:18 PM	#9 (permalink)
ohmygodimamum Status: Regular Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,708	what a good site, schools are really going to have to step up their game now. i like it __________________ Me! - 24 DD1 - 3yrs DS1 - 2yrs DS2 - 1yr

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28/01/2010, 08:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
Narelle78 Status: New Surfer! Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 510	I've looked at the site, I don't know if it is just me or not but I don't understand it. Can anyone explain it to me please???

29/01/2010, 10:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
cole Status: New Surfer! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Lalor, Melbourne Posts: 847	Ive lookked at it as well.......there are average, above and below average scores, colors, numbers and more numbers ???? geeez might have to wait till Monday when DS goes back to school and ask them....do you think they will even know or know how to explain it to me ? I doubt it....pmsl

29/01/2010, 11:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
Narelle78 Status: New Surfer! Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 510	Given what has been said on the news by the schools and teachers union...more is the question...will the school be willing to explain the site to the parents???

30/01/2010, 09:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
belb Status: New Surfer! Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 520	I looked at the site, and was impressed. We chose an out of area school for DS1, as we thought it would be a better fit, also we've heard nothing but praise for the school. After looking at the site, we discovered that it's the best school in the area, even better than the private schools.

01/02/2010, 05:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
lulu 2 Status: New Surfer! Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 155	We have had a govt site with this info available for years in WA ,a friend got me onto it when I was looking for schools for the girls and as far as I can see its all the same info as before. I don't know what all the fuss is about. (fair enough tho about the schools trying to fudge the figures thats just pointless).

20/02/2010, 09:24 PM	#10 (permalink)
chelle3 Status: New Surfer! Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Western Australia (metro) Posts: 6	I have seen the site, but went into it with my eyes wide open. There is a LOT more to a school then the naplan test results. National testing is a good idea in theory, but puts a lot of pressure on the children, and sometimes stress can lead to relatively inaccurate results. I suffered from stress in exams myself. Secondly, my eldest son went to two other schools before we settled into the school he is in now. I now have two children at this school, and would not change them. Regardless of the fact, that according to this site it is a below average school. Other factors play a part, and I for one love the passion and dedication of the teachers at the school they are in now. They are absolutely driven, and work well to make sure the children get the most out of the learning ability. That kind of passion I have not found before, and it makes it a pleasure to send my children to this school. Another thing to consider, is that the schools that do not perform well in this national testing system actually get extra funding for the school. So there is an added bonus, in that more resources and money are thrown at these schools to make their national average increase. For schools that are hugely underfunded to begin with, this money definately helps. I am not suggesting here that some schools want to be below the national average, just saying that as a parent, consider the resources that are thrown their way. Next, just because a school comes under, or over a national average does not mean that YOUR child is going to fall into the catergory themselves. No one can be stereotyped, and your child may actually perform really well in the school. The environment of the school is what is most important, and how your child fits into that. On paper a school may seem like the best school to send your child, but if your child does not seem to adjust to that school then it simply is not the school for them. One website cannot tell a parent whether a school is going to be the right fit for their child or not. Take the results with a grain of salt, but my advice is to go and talk to the schools in the area before you make a decision.

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