Plains Producer

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Plains Producer

$1.40

Wednesday February 3, 2010

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STAR OF THE NORTH

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Schools wounded by the web ad

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A snapshot of Balaklava High’s results. Go to the website for complete details.

National stats show most are below average

Happy ending for Brinkworth family

By Lauren Parker

Most local schools are performing below average when it comes to reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy. That’s the results of data gleaned from the controversial new Federal government website www. myschool.edu.au The website was swamped with hits when it went live last week. The Plains Producer accessed the website to discover many local schools were “in the red” or below average, with just a few performing above average. The results are compiled from the National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). Statistically similar schools are determined by comparing 16 social factors, including school location, income of parents, the number of indigenous students and others. In the green was Auburn Primary School, with most results above average and some average. In Balaklava, the primary school showed all below average results, as did the high school. Horizon Christian School showed a balanced mix of above, below and average results. Balaklava High School principal, Mark Healy, said the information on the website was nothing that wasn’t already available through the school’s annual report.

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The one that got away ...

With his life! BRINKWORTH man Mick Hahn fell from a jetty at Port Hughes and nearly drowned. Son Angus played a part in his rescue. Read this amazing fishing tale on Page 3.

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“Generally it provides a snapshot of aspects of the school and school community,” he said. “It certainly doesn’t provide anything new that we didn’t know before, and it doesn’t provide anything that we don’t publish in our annual report.” Mr Healy said he echoed the concerns of others who believed it could lead to the formation of ‘league tables’. “It is open to that sort of treatment and because it is really simplistic it gives a little bit of information but doesn’t actually tell the real story about what’s going on in any school,” he said. “I hope and trust the community is clear thinking enough to understand that.” At Mallala Primary School, year seven students outperformed similar schools in nearly all areas, but other grades were below or average. Mallala Primary School principal, Carmine Cafasso, said it was clear many parents were interested in the results comparison, but caution should be taken. “There’s a danger in looking at it to simplistically, and it then puts pressure on the schools and teachers to teach to the test because the results are deemed to be so important,” he said.


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