Reporting Standards: Do, or Do Not. There is No Try

In the movie, The Empire Strikes Back, Yoda is trying to teach Luke how to use the force, something he has never done before. While Luke becomes adept at smaller tasks, such as moving stones, he is aware at the big challenge, his ultimate goal of raising his ship out of a swamp is too much for his capabilities. He becomes frustrated and stops believing that he will ever be able to achieve it.

A trend in education is visible learning. It has benefits in that class displays are present which show the students next learning steps in the curriculum areas that National Standards are measured in. Students are able to identify the stage of learning they are at, and the next step for them to continue progressing, learning and improving.

Contradictory to this is another visible learning display which tells students their stage of achievement in relation to national standards. A child who has learning needs and sits below or well below national standards is reminded daily of the fact that they are not achieving. Each year, as the National Standard goalposts shift, regardless of how hard the student works or improves, they are always chasing the standard. A standard that will always be out of reach. A standard that is the ONLY thing they are judged on when assessing and reporting achievement is undertaken.

Herein lies the dichotomy of being a classroom Primary School teacher. On one hand we are encouraging students to focus on next learning steps, yet we don't report to the Ministry on this. League tables published in national publications don't reflect growth and improvement in student progress. Our value and worth as educators is not judged on fostering a love of learning, or creative learning tasks. It is judged primarily on how many students are above the target. It relates, in a negative sense, to Yoda's words, "Do, or do not. There is no try."
It has become increasingly difficult to serve two masters. Fortunately I work in a school where teachers and management are positive, creative practitioners. Being surrounded by people with these qualities makes it easier to do what it takes every day to plan for, teach towards and celebrate the small learning steps each student makes along the way.

An old quote goes "In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is."

Yoda raises the ship from the swamp. Showing Luke that it is possible for the task to be achieved.
Luke: "I don't believe it." Yoda responds with, "And that is why you fail."

In my opinion, while National Standards are probably the easiest way for the Ministry of Education to track and present achievement data, and are what my success as a teacher are externally judged on, the thought of them doesn't enter my head at any stage of any day that I'm working with my students. They are irrelevant. As someone charged with nurturing children, why would I want to have that in their faces everyday as well? As an adult, having a reminder everyday that you're not considered good enough would kill off any trace of a growth mindset. What would that do to a child?

The best way to foster a love of learning, is to remove the barriers to self belief, and focus on small improvement steps. In a choice between students and targets, I choose the students. The National Standards, are coming off the wall.