Massey Educator Leads thinking on National Standards

The Government’s introduction of National Standards has caused a sharp divide in schools, but Massey University Dr Jenny Poskitt is rapidly becoming the ‘go to’ expert on how schools can get the best out them.

National Standards focus particularly on students’ performance in reading, writing and maths. They were introduced in New Zealand in 2010 for students from year one to Year 8. While some schools have embraced them, they have also caused sharp divisions in the profession.

Overall Teacher Judgements are a major element in National Standards requiring teachers to assess and report on students’ performance.

“While this may sound easy, the assessments are complex. They require teachers to draw together a range of sources of information and to come up with a judgment that reports against the national curriculum. Overall Teacher Judgements are expected to be uniform for New Zealand, when children, classrooms and school are extremely varied,” Dr Poskitt says.

She has devised a system to help schools and teachers master the judgements, and get more out of them for long-term school and student performance.

As with any new system, she says, schools and teachers are still working through uncertainty about National Standards and how they fit with the curriculum, time demands in developing and applying judgments and consistent ways of interpreting them.

Dr Poskitt advises schools to aim for consistency through the following steps:

• Develop an understanding of what constitutes an Overall Teacher Judgement
• Share and develop, both within the school and with other schools, a common understanding of the National Standards and how they apply to particular curriculum areas
• Use examples (exemplars) of student’s work which demonstrate when Standards have been achieved to inform understanding and to develop criteria
• Use moderation (collaboration between teacher groups) to ensure that consistent judgments are being made about students across the school and across subjects.

“If done well, Overall Teacher Judgements can be used by teachers and schools to help with professional development, targeting resources for teacher development and student learning.

“Smart schools use the information they get to inform school strategy and planning; where they need to focus resources including where they need to invest in professional learning for teachers, extra resources and in identifying students who need additional help,” Dr Poskitt says.

“If teachers and schools see this just as an accountability exercise, that is a wasted opportunity. It’s a real opportunity to use the process to enhance professional learning and student achievement,” she says.

She also highlights the fact that her model can be used regardless of National Standards.

“It is good practice and will help schools and teachers think strategically, think smart, and it can really help develop schools’ learning, strategies and outcomes.”

Her insights into Overall Teacher Judgements are now being called on by schools, advisors and institutions to help them work with the new system. Dr Poskitt has presented to schools and teachers’ groups including at this year’s New Zealand Educational Institute regional seminar in August, as keynote speakers to the 7th International Conference of Middle Years of Schooling Association in Queensland in May and the Waikato University Numeracy Conference in July, and various regional groups in New Zealand. She will be a keynote speaker at next year’s Inspired Impact Conference in Palmerston North in January.

Dr Poskitt is also an expert advisor on the Ministry of Education Professional Learning Effectiveness Committee.