League tables not a fair picture

The Western Bay of Plenty Principals' Association fears the publication of league tables will lead to misinformation about the effectivness of individual schools.

The association said Western Bay of Plenty principals agree that recently published National Standards data does not reflect a fair and accurate image of the teaching and learning that is happening in schools.

"Children entering schools are not all standard and from their first day at school will bring a variety of learning experiences that place them in differing starting positions for the academic journey ahead of them," a pricipals'association spokesperson said.

"Throughout their schooling life the range of experiences they encounter outside the school gate will continue to impact their learning within the school. Therefore, the crude replication of National Standards data will fail to inform school communities about the quality of teaching and learning at individual schools.

"Higher proportions of children not meeting the standards at School A does not indicate that teaching programmes are inferior to School B. In fact, the opposite could be true."

The spokesperson said it was the association's hope that parents will continue to form impressions by visiting schools and then engaging with the school in the education of their children.