We will still be reporting to students and parents in written form twice per year, and reporting via student conferences twice per year, as usual. However, the timing of this reporting will be different this year.
We have previously been required to report on student achievement for their first three years of schooling through a system called 'anniversary reporting', that is, reporting on their birthday when they turn 6, 7, and 8, and in the subsequent half year anniversary of these dates. This system has been confusing for some parents, as it is on a different reporting schedule from older students in years 4, 5 and 6. It was particularly tricky for many students in year 4 who were part of both the anniversary reporting system and the original mid/end year reporting structure.
We are now able to streamline this system to make it easier for everyone. All students throughout the school will have a student conference in Terms 1 and 3, and a written report at the end of Term 2 (mid year report) and at the end of Term 4 (end of year report).
For younger students in years 1, 2 and 3, the age of each student and their time at school will be taken into account in their report.
As a school, we will be consulting over the next term and a half with students, parents and staff on what we want included in our reports now that reporting on National Standards is not obligatory. Our matrices in reading, writing and maths show where students are achieving in different aspects of their learning, so students and their whanau will still know where students are working and what their next steps are.
All students will have a student conference with hub teachers at the end of this term; information about conferences and how to book conferences will be sent out soon.
Nga mihi,
The Amesbury team
