Newsletter 2024/25

Kia ora PBS parents and whānau

Please keep reading as today’s newsletter contains information about:

• Misleading Government claims about Maths Achievement in NZ
• Staff only day reminder (Thursday, 5 September)
• Book Fair this week! Pop into the Hihi room (opposite the sandpit) to get some great deals.

Misleading Government claims about Maths Achievement in NZ

I want to start today’s newsletter addressing NZ principals’ concerns with the government’s recent announcements on maths achievement and their plans for rapid change. The government is asserting that there is a “total failure” of the education system and maths results are “appalling”. Such statements are not evidence-based but designed to spread fear and mislead. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-transforms-maths-education

I have not spoken to one principal in the last few months who doesn’t hold serious concerns in this regard.  Therefore, many principals are reaching out to their parent community to build awareness of our concerns and provide additional information. I have also included performance results from Paraparaumu Beach School which clearly refute these government claims.

What is the government claiming?

In recent media releases government officials claim that only 22% of Year 8 students are ‘at or above’ grade in maths.

If this were a true, valid and reliable statistic then, yes, educators would be highly concerned. However, these misleading and wide-sweeping claims only serve to narrow our curriculum, spread fear amongst school communities, devalue the work of educators and commercialise teaching approaches.

Why are such claims misleading?

The statistics released by the government were generated through the CIPS (Curriculum Insights and Progress Study). Typically, CIPS is used to model how NZ students are progressing.  However, in the last study the results were used to grade students against the new draft maths curriculum. This was done so that researchers could gauge if the new draft curriculum had higher or lower expectations than the maths curriculum currently in use. Therefore, none of the children involved in the study were learning from this new curriculum at the time of testing.

The government grabbed these results and have reported them, out of context, to make student maths achievement in NZ look dire. Given the students tested hadn’t been taught from the new draft maths curriculum, using the results in this way is absurd and unacceptable.

This ill-informed announcement has even been commented on by leading NZCER researcher, Dr Charles Darr, who said these findings indicate a change in curriculum content and the benchmarking process rather than a drop in student achievement. In other words, the draft maths curriculum requires a higher level of ability. https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/08/07/govts-use-of-new-data-in-maths-overhaul-criticised/

What does other data show?

To better understand student achievement in NZ we need to consider additional results and a wider field of data for comparison. One source of relevant and widely-referenced achievement data comes from the PISA study.  The data from PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) compares the maths, science, and reading abilities of students across 81 countries. New Zealand consistently performs well, and currently ranks 7th globally (in maths) and significantly above the average. Kiwi students particularly excel in maths problem-solving and critical thinking. While the COVID-19 pandemic caused maths scores to decline worldwide in 2022, New Zealand maintained its position above the international average.

Unfortunately, deeper analysis of the PISA results (over time) highlights a link between socio-economic circumstances and achievement. The President of the PPTA, Chris Ambercrombie, put it like this “if you are fortunate enough to be born into a financially comfortable family, you will do better academically”.  Therefore, if the government is serious about wanting higher educational outcomes, improving the lives of those living in impoverished circumstances would be a better place to start.

So what does Maths achievement look like at Paraparaumu Beach School? 

At Paraparaumu Beach School we collect achievement data, against the NZ Curriculum levels twice each year.  This data is analysed and the findings are reported to the Board. Naturally, we use this data to identify areas of need and investigate how we can continue to improve. 

At the end of 2023:

• 76% of Year 3 students were achieving at or above the expected level
• 83% of Year 4 students were achieving at or above the expected level
• 80% of Year 5 students were achieving at or above the expected level
• 70% of Year 6 students were achieving at or above the expected level
• 91% of Year 7 students were achieving at or above the expected level
• 72% of Year 8 students were achieving at or above the expected level

These results are well above the national average.  

What is the government proposing from here?

Worryingly, based on this misuse of data, the government has proposed a rapid overhaul of the Maths curriculum, with the expectation that teachers use it from January 2025 (instead of 2026). This expectation now coincides with the roll out of the new English curriculum document. Released just last week, the new draft Maths Curriculum is now open for a brief consultation period ending on September 6. Given the tight time frame, educators across the country face a significant challenge in fully understanding both the Maths and English curriculum changes before their implementation early next year.

In summary, please know that we do not see a crisis in maths education. PBS educators always strive to deliver quality learning programmes, we are committed to an ongoing cycle of professional development and review, we support evidence-based change to curriculum, and we want positive progress and achievement results for all our students.

Thanks for reading!

Mā te wā,

Jess Ward

Principal – Tumuaki

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Upcoming dates for your awareness:

• THIS WEEK – Book Fair! Every book purchased earns points for our school library to buy books too 🙂
• Wednesday, 21 August – Senior Winter Tournament for Years 7-8 (pp day 22/8)
• Friday, 23 August – Book Week Parade (whole school)
• Wednesday, 28 August – Junior Winter Tournament for Years 5-6 (pp day 30/8)
• Thursday, 5 September – Teacher only day (school closed for instruction)
• 16 – 20 September – Māori Language Week

PRINCIPAL’S C.R.E.S.T CORNER:

At PBS we champion our school C.R.E.S.T values in everything we do.
Curiosity. Respect. Excellence. Self Management. Teamwork

CREST value of TEAMWORK and SELF MANAGEMENT

As part of this week’s Book Week celebrations, Student Councillors Sienna, Phoebe and Holly provided a lunchtime activity opportunity for our junior syndicates. They held a story time and then ran a colouring activity in the library. Tu meke!