Reporting is the second, essential part of the assessment process. Without it, any assessment loses much of its credibility. Reporting can be to one or more of many groups. In educational settings this can be to the system, the school and its staff and in schools and other educational settings, students and their families.

There are multiple ways of doing this - regular, print reports such as report cards; documentary evidence; electronic reporting; personal meetings and more. Each has positives and negatives depending on the situation and combinations of these may well be the best option. Promptness in reporting is, however, an essential characteristic.

This page looks at reporting processes in all states & territories. Other Information includes reporting software, reporting aids such as rubrics and provides a connection to databanks of report card comments. This page should be used in conjunction with the Assessment page.

This is a continually evolving page. The Other Information section will be further developed as time permits. Recommendations for inclusion are welcome.

States & Territory Information

Australian Capital Territory

• ACT STudent Reporting
  Covers Plain English reporting, common reporting scale, Frequently Asked Questions for Parents and PDF format sample reports from Kindergarten to Year 12.
• Reporting on Student Achievement & Progress
  Policy document.

New South Wales

• About the Common Grade Scale
  ‘The Common Grade Scale shown below can be used to report student achievement in both primary and junior secondary years in all NSW schools. The Common Grade Scale describes performance at each of five grade levels’. Now a common process around Australia as part of a national program.
• Annual School Reports
  Information for schools, parents, FAQs, Helpline and more.
• Grading and Reporting Student Achievement
  Information from the Board of Studies, referring to the A to E rankings.
• School Based Student Reporting [SBSR] Software
  ‘Software to support the generation of student reports. The School Based Student Reporting software version 3.0 [SBSR3] is a web-based application. This software meets the Department’s requirements for reporting to parents. Version 3.1 will report student achievement on either an A-E scale or using word descriptors’. General Information, but detailed information is only available through the Department’s Intranet. Access Flash Video Tutorials on using the software. Both video and a transcript of the contents.

Northern Territory

• AVETMISS Reporting
  ‘Evaluates data for funding, audit and national reporting purposes enabling informed decision making on improved VET management in the NT’.
• NTCE Reporting and Certification
• Reporting Against NAPLAN Standards
• Reporting Guidelines
  Also has information on A to E Grades On School Reports.
• Reporting School Performance Information
  Covers multiple areas.
• SAMS Curriculum e-Tool
  This covers the A-Reporting component.
  You now need to be able to log in to access this site.

Queensland

• Guidelines for Reporting
  Also available as a PDF download
• Reporting
  ‘Twice-yearly reports provide information about a student’s performance in each learning area studied that semester, including an overall grade that uses a common five-point scale’.
• Roadmap for P-10 Curriculum, Teaching, Assessment and Reporting
  ‘Describes five priorities to ensure high-quality teaching and improve the learning and achievement of Queensland students’.
• School Annual Report
  ‘Schools are required to provide a School Annual Report to their community. The School Annual Report must appear on the school’s website, and be published in one other format’.

Top of Page

South Australia

• DECS Assessment and Reporting Operational Guidelines
  Anmother document covering R-10 schools is also available.
• Effective Feedback
  One of a series of articles about assessment and reporting.
• New SA Student Report Information
  There are also documents covering Frequently Asked Questions and a New Student Reports in SA at a Glance, brochure.
• SACSA Achievement System
  One aspect allows recording of achievement which is then ‘attached’ to the student for future reference. Software program.

Tasmania

• Reporting for Year Groups
  Provides details for Primary & Secondary years.
• Reporting to Parents Taskforce
  Recommendations have been implemented. This document provides information regarding the procedure.
• School Reporting
  ‘The Student at the Centre plan is about ensuring that students are provided with the best possible environment for achievement and success. Timely reporting to parents is an important part of this strategy’.
• Your Child’s Progress
  Covers several reporting and monitoring processes.

Victoria

• About the Student Report Cards
  Brochure for parents to download. There is also a Fact Sheet detailing changes made in recent years.
• Parent-Teacher Interviews
  ‘Tips for getting the most out of parent-teacher interviews’.
• Student Report - Information for Parents
  All aspects are covered. The only exceptions are those children in special programs for those with disabilities.
• Writing Guide for Student Report Cards
  Covers what are seen as the essentials, writing comments for each section/subject, previews of sample reports and writing checklist.
  Well presented !

Western Australia

• Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Policy
  You can download a PDF Copy from this link. There are also FAQs, though these cover curriculum, assessment and reporting.
• Monitoring Standards in Education
  This link covers the reporting section of this site. Available to all, but Free to West Australian Government Schools. Some available in PDF format.
• Reporting to Parents
  Information about the software being used to report school achievement from Years 1 to 12. Information and support materials in four areas - Primary School Reporting, Secondary School Reporting, Senior School Reporting and EAL/D Reporting. There is also news available from the menu on the right.

Top of Page

Other Information

General Information

• Reporting
  ‘ACARA will publish the National Report on Schooling in Australia from 2009 onward. This report will inform the Australian people on progress against the national goals for schooling and agreed national performance measures’.
• School Report Cards
  Review of the use of School Report Cards internationally‘ This review shows the variation in the use of Report Cards and the different features that are included’. Done by National Foundation for Educational Research in the UK. You can get a Free Download of the report via this link.
• Standards-Based Education and Student Report Cards
  A workshop presentation by the US Department of Education. While slightly dated, it may help clarify matters for those interested in this area.

Guidelines

• Principles and Protocols for Reporting on Schooling in Australia
  Agreed to by all Education Ministers in June 2009,

Parent/Teacher Conferences

• But What Do I Say ?
  ‘Teachers are far more likely to find the right words in sensitive parent-teacher conferences when they’ve had a chance to rehearse’. Article from ASCD, Educational Leadership.
• Helpful Hints for Parent Teacher Meetings
  Brief but covers all the basics. From Parents and Friends Tasmania.
• Meeting With the Parents
  ‘Making the Most of Parent-Teacher Conferences’. American article concentrating on the roles of leaders [administrators] and staff.
• Parent Conference Considerations
  ‘Here are some ideas used by successful teachers to reap the maximum benefit from parent-teacher conferences’.
• Parent Teacher Interviews/Conferences
  ‘Tips for Effective Conferences’. Also has links to other articles, organisers, more. From About.
• Parent Teacher Meetings
  Primarily done for parents. Short but sensible presentation.
• Parent Teacher Meeting Videos
  Extensive listing of short videos, many from YouTube, covering different aspects of this topic.
• Preparing for a Parent-Teacher Conference
  ‘A Teacher’s Checklist for a Successful Parent Meeting’. Step-by-step information. For other article on this area go to Articles for Parent-Teacher Meetings and select those you want.

Report Card Comments

• Check the Reporting Resources page for links to multiple examples of these, But also note the warning that accompanies the listing.

Reporting Software

Software and online packages available or used in Australia. Several are Fee-based, sometimes expensive.

• Accelerus - Reporting Just Got Easier
  ‘Accelerus is the new reporting software application for schools from Semaphore Consulting. Accelerus Features : Easy to use teacher interface; Fast processing of school reports; User-defined academic structure; Comment banks’ and much more. This is a newer, advanced version of Markbook listed below.
• ClassRoom Portals
  ‘Designed to make your record keeping and grading much easier’. Designed by school teachers.
  Previously known as Classroom Windows.
• EasyReporter
  Links with OASIS.
• MarkBook - Assessment & Reporting System
• Teacher’s Report Assistant
  ‘A totally Free time saving utility for teachers who word process student reports’.
• Report 2.0
  ‘A state-of-the-art curriculum management and school reporting system for all schools and educational institutions. selected by the NSW Government as a Contract Supplier for School Reporting Applications’.
• Report Designer
  Australian reporting program. Free trial available. Program is Fee-based.
• ReportMaker

Rubrics

Their creation, effective use of rubrics for assessment and more. For further information on Rubrics see the Reporting Resources page.

• Grading Master. Queensland New Basics Project
• Kathy Schrock’s Guide to Assessment and Rubrics
• RubiStar
  ‘RubiStar is a Free tool to help teachers create quality rubrics’. Find what a rubric is, view the tutorial. Register to gain full access.
• Rubric Links
  If you wish to find more about rubrics, especially Language Area rubrics, this site has a collection of links to creating rubric information and to language rubric sites.
• Rubric Machine
  A Collaborative Rubric Toolkit. You need to sign up [seems to be Free] to make or access rubrics on this.
• Rubrics for Web Lessons
  Information, links, demo software, examples, articles and guidelines for rubric creation.
• Rubrics & Rubric Makers
  ‘The rubric makers will allow you to make grading rubrics by filling out a simple form. The materials are made instantly and can be printed directly from your computer’.
• Rubric Generators
  Generators to create rubrics.

Top of Page

© D & B Mann Webmasters. All rights reserved. Last updated - 23 March 2012.
Best viewed at a resolution of 1280 x 800 or greater. We use and recommend Mozilla Firefox as the preferred browser.