Key Takeaways:
- The New Zealand Government has introduced a new progress reporting system for students, featuring five clear progress markers: Emerging, Developing, Consolidating, Proficient, and Exceeding.
- The system aims to provide consistent and reliable information on student progress in the basics, addressing concerns from the Education Review Office (ERO) and the New Zealand Assessment Institute (NZAI).
- The new system includes twice-yearly progress check-ins for students in Year 3-8, supported by a monitoring tool called SMART, aligning with mid-year and end-of-year reporting.
- The SMART tool is designed to support teacher judgement, not replace it, and provide parents with clear and consistent information on student progress.
- The new system has been trialled in 85 schools with positive feedback, and is expected to improve assessment practices and reporting to parents.
Introduction to the New Progress Reporting System
The New Zealand Government has introduced a new progress reporting system for students, featuring five clear progress markers: Emerging (Me hāpai ako), Developing (Kua koke whakamua), Consolidating (Whakatōpū), Proficient (Kua tutuki), and Exceeding (Kua hipa rawa). This system is designed to provide consistent and reliable information on student progress in the basics, addressing concerns from the Education Review Office (ERO) and the New Zealand Assessment Institute (NZAI). The introduction of this system marks a significant shift in the way student progress is reported, with a focus on providing parents with clear and concise information on their child’s learning journey.
Background and Rationale
The introduction of the new progress reporting system is a response to expert advice, including calls from the likes of the Education Review Office (ERO) and the New Zealand Assessment Institute (NZAI) for improved assessment practices and higher-quality reporting to parents. For too long, New Zealand has lacked consistent, reliable information on how students are progressing in the basics. Both ERO and the Assessment Institute have been clear that without nationally consistent assessment and reporting, parents can be left without the information they need, and the system cannot respond early when children need support. The Government is acting on this advice, introducing a new system that aims to provide parents with the information they need to support their child’s learning.
The Five Progress Indicators
The five progress indicators are designed to provide a clear and concise picture of student progress. Emerging (Me hāpai ako) indicates that a student is just beginning to develop the skills and knowledge required for a particular subject or area of learning. Developing (Kua koke whakamua) indicates that a student is making progress, but may still require support to achieve the expected standards. Consolidating (Whakatōpū) indicates that a student has achieved a solid foundation in the subject or area of learning, and is now consolidating their knowledge and skills. Proficient (Kua tutuki) indicates that a student has achieved the expected standards, and is demonstrating a high level of proficiency. Exceeding (Kua hipa rawa) indicates that a student is exceeding the expected standards, and is demonstrating exceptional knowledge and skills.
Trialling and Implementation
The new system has been trialled in 85 schools with about 12,000 student assessment engagements. The feedback has been positive, according to the Government. The trial has provided valuable insights into the effectiveness of the new system, and has helped to refine the progress indicators and the SMART monitoring tool. The SMART tool is a low-stakes, light-touch way to support consistent assessment, and is not designed to replace teacher judgement. Teachers will continue to use their professional expertise, drawing on classroom work, observations and assessments, to support student learning.
Supporting Teacher Judgement
The SMART tool is designed to support teacher judgement, not replace it. Teachers will continue to use their professional expertise to assess student progress, and the SMART tool will provide additional information to support their judgement. The tool will help to ensure that parents receive clear, consistent information on student progress, and will provide a framework for teachers to identify areas where students may need additional support. The introduction of the SMART tool marks a significant shift in the way student progress is reported, with a focus on providing parents with clear and concise information on their child’s learning journey.
Conclusion and Future Directions
The introduction of the new progress reporting system marks a significant shift in the way student progress is reported in New Zealand. The system aims to provide consistent and reliable information on student progress in the basics, addressing concerns from the Education Review Office (ERO) and the New Zealand Assessment Institute (NZAI). The five progress indicators and the SMART monitoring tool are designed to provide parents with clear and concise information on their child’s learning journey, and to support teacher judgement. The trial has provided valuable insights into the effectiveness of the new system, and the Government is committed to continuing to refine and improve the system to ensure that it meets the needs of students, parents, and teachers.
