ORANGE principals warn parents not to choose a school based on MySchool data.
ORANGE principals warn parents not to choose a school based on MySchool data.
Orange Anglican Grammar principal Len Elliot said the data had “serious flaws” if used to choose the right school for your child.
“It’s pretty useful for us but it doesn’t measure the whole student,” he said.
The data in the new-look website compares like schools with like schools, schools that have students from lower socio economic areas compared with similar schools across the country.
Eight Orange schools fell behind the standard in one or more categories when compared with similar schools.
Kinross Wolaroi School principal Brian Kennelly said the information used to make that comparison was not wholly accurate.
“The socio-economic level of students is only one small measure,” he said.
A Department of Education and Communities spokesperson said the data was never meant to be used for comparison.
“Without a thorough insight into the complex factors that govern students’ performance, conclusions about good teaching or good schools have little meaning and cross-school comparison have little validity,” he said.
“It is not possible to draw conclusions about good teaching from the bare results published on the website.”
The spokesperson said the MySchool statistical data relates to a snapshot of a particular students’ performance on a particular day and it would be more productive for parents to choose a school based on their child’s learning needs and how that school is equipped to deal with those learning needs.
“By definition of any measurement of performance, half will be above average and half will be below average.”
Mr Elliot said the figures lacked context and there were reasons behind why a school performed poorly and it would be better to look at the results over time.
He said despite his year 9 group not having great results he was comforted to know the students they had from kindergarten were performing well and the results would help the school plan the curriculum.
