School fails to report National Standards

Masterton Intermediate School is one of only 26 schools nationwide that failed to report National Standards data this year.

A Ministry of Education spokesman said the MIS Board of Trustees had not reported data this year because there had been none available when principal Kara Mason started in the role in October last year.

He said the school had since established frameworks for monitoring progress and achievement in relation to National Standards in reading, writing and mathematics.

Progress reports against National Standards were made available to parents earlier this year and the school board was expected to report 2012 data next year.

Ms Mason said that when she began at the school there had been a range of data being collected, mostly based on standardised tests.

However, there was "a need to strengthen some of our systems for collecting and reporting data in relation to the national standards", she said.

"We have been doing a considerable amount of work this year to ensure that our systems result in reliable data which we can then use ultimately to improve student progress and achievement."

Ms Mason said the school had throughout the year pursued National Standards targets in maths and writing, alongside other targets, and staff daily worked with assessment information.

"We are well aware of the need to provide data to the ministry but there is more to our school than just collecting and reporting data," she said.

Ms Mason said the school had earlier this year won "a great review" from the Education Review Office.

This week pupils had excelled during celebrations of the annual school exchange trip to Japan, and at the Super Arts Kapa Haka Festival in Palmerston North and an interschool Battle of the Bands contest in Upper Hutt.

"We are not perfect but we are working hard to meet our school vision which is that students at Masterton Intermediate School are enriched and successful learners who achieve excellence and contribute positively to society. From what I have seen so far we are doing that well."

National Standards data for 1899 primary and intermediate schools is available on the Education Counts website.

For more information go to www.educationcounts.govt.nz