But while families obviously need to make their own choices, research shows students’ performance at school is largely based on their socioeconomic background rather than whether they went to a private or public school. There is a demand for a diverse range of schools that provide different programs, philosophies and structures for young people. Over the same period, an additional 47,657 students enrolled in government schools – so this is hardly an exodus. It is important to look at the actual figures here.īetween 20, an additional 71,388 students enrolled in Australian independent schools. There are news stories about an “exodus” of students from the public system to private schools. School choice is taking place in a highly pressurised and ongoing debate in Australia. You can also ask other parents why they send their children to a particular school. For example, are they very interested in a particular sports or arts program at one school? Is going to school in their local area important? Where are their friends going? Parents should make sure they ask their children what they want from a school or where they might like to go. Attending school open days and parent information evenings can also provide a useful source of information about the community and culture of the school. There is simply no substitute for visiting a school, speaking to teachers and school leaders, and getting information about their programs and resources. How can you get a sense of quality?Ī good school for your child is the one where they feel like they belong, are seen and heard by their teachers and peers, and where they are challenged by a curriculum that connects them to new ideas and ways of thinking about the world. In short, parents should not read too much into NAPLAN results and My School information. My School does not give direct information about school culture, community connections and values, which are all important considerations when thinking about what makes for a “good” school. Meanwhile, NAPLAN results do not necessarily tell you anything about the quality of a school and its teachers. This includes detrimental impacts on staff morale and student wellbeing. On top of this, substantial concerns remain about the value of NAPLAN altogether. While My School actively discourages the use of its data to generate league tables, media reporting often does precisely this. However, there is no doubt “high performing” schools are singled out for media coverage via the My School database and through their NAPLAN results. This charts average NAPLAN performance compared with students from similar socioeconomic backgrounds and comparable NAPLAN scores two years earlier.
In 2020, My School revamped its approach and got rid of direct comparisons between schools in favour of reporting on “student progress”. My School says it “does not measure overall school quality”, but instead “complements other reporting measures aimed at ensuring schools and school systems are accountable to parents”. My School does not measure school quality The site also provides information about schools’ finances, funding sources and the “post-school destinations” of students, which includes information about further education and training or employment six months after completing Year 12. My School includes information about enrolment numbers, attendance, the socioeconomic background of students and NAPLAN results since 2014. According to the site, this is to help parents and the community understand “the performance of schools over time”.
The My School website is updated each year with information about every school in Australia. If you are looking up My School data about your child’s school, what should you keep in mind? How do you know whether your school is a “good” one? What is My School?
This is the site launched in 2010 by then education minister, Julia Gillard, which allows you to search information about individual schools. The My School website has just been updated for 2023. Is the local public school the best option or would another public, faith-based or independent school be a better fit? Parents often worry about which school will be the best one for their children. The article has been republished from The Conversation under the Creative Commons license.
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