‘Simplistic’ colour-coded school reports get mixed reviews from principals
New Zealand schools are receiving new performance reports that use colour-coded tables to summarize data. While some officials believe it provides a clearer picture, principals worry the system is too simplistic and may unfairly stigmatize schools in lower-income areas.
Why it matters
Reflects the ongoing debate over educational accountability metrics and their impact on school equity.
Principals fear that people will base judgments on tables rather than read full reports. Photo / 123rf
By John Gerritsen of RNZ , RNZ Morning Report
The publication of the first Education Review Office reports using colour-coded tables to depict schools’ performance has done little to allay principals’ fears.
The tables use four colours to show how schools are going in 14 areas, including attendance, reading and writing and teaching.
The colours show if schools are judged to be excelling (dark green), doing well (light green), working towards (orange) or improvement required (red).
Some principals worry the tables are too simplistic and will unfairly stigmatise schools in poor communities, where achievement and attendance is often lower than average.
The Education Review Office acknowledged the concern, and told RNZ it was particularly important people read the full reports of schools in poor communities and not base judgments just on the tables.
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