A8 Strategic indicators
In a snapshot
- The ACT had a higher proportion of year 12 attainment than the national average.
- The percentage of year 12 public school students who received a Year 12 Certificate increased from 88.0 percent in 2011 to 88.3 percent in 2012.
- Over the past four years satisfaction of parents and carers with education at ACT public schools has been at a high level. Satisfaction levels have improved from 83.3 percent in 2011 to 86.0 percent in 2012.
- The staff retention rate of 93.9 percent in 2012 continued to be above target.
The Directorate launched its Strategic Plan 2010-2013: Everyone matters in January 2010. The Strategic Plan guides the organisation, and informs its clients and stakeholders about key priorities. The Plan identifies four priority areas: Learning and Teaching; School Environment; Student Pathways and Transitions; and Leadership and Corporate Development.
Performance indicators have been identified in each of these priority areas to allow for monitoring of progress over time.
Learning and Teaching
To ensure students succeed through quality teaching that engages them and supports the development of capabilities for life.
Year 12 attainment
Attainment of a year 12 or equivalent qualification is recognised as a key to better employment outcomes and social inclusion. It is a strategic target identified by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) for education reform in Australia.
Box A8.1: Year 12 attainment
The proportion of the 20-24 year-old population having attained at least a year 12 or equivalent qualification (Australian Qualifications Framework certificate II or above) is calculated as the number of 20-24 year olds who self-identify as having attained a year 12 or equivalent qualification divided by the estimated population aged 20-24 years.
The proportion of the 20-24 year-old population having attained at least a year 12 or equivalent qualification was obtained from the ABS Survey of Education and Work (SEW). The 2012 SEW was conducted in May 2012 and released in November 2012.
However, the measurement of this indicator at the ACT level using the SEW is to be discontinued in this report in the future due to the inability of the SEW to reliably measure change year on year at the jurisdiction level. As a result, caution is urged in the interpretation of this measure.
A data quality statement on this measure can be obtained on page B.35 in Part B, Childcare, Education and Training sector overview in the Report on Government Services 2013 on the Productivity Commission Website.
The ACT had the highest proportion of year 12 attainment in Australia. Figure A8.1 shows that for the last four years, the proportion of 20-24 year olds in the ACT who attained a year 12 or equivalent qualification remained higher than the national average.
Figure A8.1: Proportion of young people aged 20-24 who have attained a Year 12 Certificate or equivalent or Certificate II or above
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Survey of Education and Work 2012
Year 12 completion
An alternative measure of the achievement of the population in completing a secondary school qualification is the proportion awarded a Year 12 Certificate.
Box A8.2: Year 12 completion
Year 12 completion is the number of students who meet the requirement of a Year 12 Certificate expressed as a percentage of year 12 enrolments. Data is obtained from the Board of Senior Secondary Studies and the Directorate's School Census undertaken in February.
Estimates are calculated based on the number of students completing the requirements of the ACT Year 12 Certificate divided by the number of year 12 students as at the ACT School Census, February of the reference year.
Further information on the quality of this measure can be obtained by emailing to ETDAnnualReport@act.gov.au
Figure A8.2 shows that the ACT public school completion rate for year 12 was 88.3 percent in 2012, an improvement from 88.0 percent in 2011. There is no comparative data at the national level.
Figure A8.2: Percentage of year 12 public school students who received a Year 12 Certificate
Source: ACT Government Budget Paper 4, 2013-14
School Environment
To meet each student's academic, social, emotional and physical needs by ensuring all ACT public schools provide positive and success-oriented learning environments.
Student attendance
Attendance at school is essential for learning and for enabling students to benefit from the full range of educational programs offered at school.
Box A8.3: Student attendance
The student attendance rate is the number of actual full-time equivalent student-days attended by full-time students in years 1 to 10 as a percentage of the total number of possible student-days over the period.
Attendance is recorded for the first semester in the reporting year.
Attendance data are collected through the electronic school management system at the school. For primary school attendance data, teachers record student attendance daily (to the level of half day attendance). High school attendance data are recorded at each teaching period and entered into the electronic school management system. Absence data are aggregated at the end of each term and entered in the school management system.
A data quality statement on this measure can be obtained from Report on Government Services page on the Australian Productivity Commission website.
The attendance rate of public school students from years 1 to 10 was 91.4 percent in 2012, compared with 91.3 percent in 2011 (Figure A8.3). The Directorate has set in place strategies to increase the attendance and engagement of students, particularly at high schools and colleges.
The national attendance rate for public schools in 2011 (latest available data) was 90.2 percent, compared with 91.0 percent in 2010, lower than the attendance rate for ACT public school students.
Figure A8.3: Attendance rate of public school students in year 1 to year 10
Source:
- ACT Government Budget Paper 4, 2013-14
- Productivity Commission, Report on Government Services 2011, Table 4A.135 for 2009 data, Report on Government Services 2012, Table 4A.110 for 2010 data and Report on Government Services 2013, Table 4A.114 for 2011 data
Note:
Australian rate is an average of states and territories' years 1 to 10 average. The indicator was adopted as an accountability indicator for 2013-14 with a revised target of 91.5 percent
Student satisfaction
Student satisfaction is an important indicator of student engagement, leading to positive learning outcomes.
Box A8.4: Student satisfaction
Student satisfaction is based on a survey of students from years 5 to 12 at ACT public schools, excluding students at specialist schools. The survey is conducted in May and June each year. Reponses are sought from primary and high school students to 35 items and to 37 items for college students.
In determining overall student satisfaction, the question 'Overall I am satisfied I am getting a good education at this school' is used. Responses are collected on a five point scale with only statements of 'agree' or 'strongly agree' used to calculate overall satisfaction rates.
In 2012, 13,163 students responded to the survey.
Further information on the quality of this measure can be obtained by emailing to ETDAnnualReport@act.gov.au
From 2009 to 2012, overall student satisfaction (across primary, high and college sectors) with the quality of the education received at public schools increased (Figure A8.4). There is no comparative data at the national level.
Figure A8.4: Overall student satisfaction with the education at their public school
Source: ACT Government Budget Paper 4, 2013-14
Student Pathways and Transitions
To provide learning pathways for students resulting in an educated and skilled workforce that meets the present and future needs of the ACT and region.
Student destination
The proportion of year 12 graduates engaged in study or employment six months after completing year 12 reflects performance of the educational system in preparing students for further study and employment.
Box A8.5: Student destination post-school
Destination data is based on a survey of graduates who successfully complete year 12 in the ACT. Graduates from the previous year are surveyed in May of the reference year.
The survey frame is drawn from the Board of Senior Secondary Studies administrative records and the population of interest is defined as those graduates who were awarded a Year 12 Certificate from an ACT college, school or the Canberra Institute of Technology. The population excludes graduates who were full-fee paying international students.
There were 4,086 year 12 graduates in 2011. Of these 3,628 graduates were contacted for the survey. Contact was made from 7 May 2012 to 4 June 2012. There were 2,811 graduates who completed the survey, a response rate of 77 percent.
Further information on the quality of this measure can be obtained by emailing to ETDAnnualReport@act.gov.au.
As shown in Figure A8.5, the percentage of year 12 public school graduates engaged in study or employment increased from 92.6 percent in 2011 to 93.5 percent in 2012.
Nationally, the latest available data was for 2011. The percentage of 2010 year 12 graduates who were studying or employed full-time in 2011 was 75.4 percent. The ACT continued to maintain high levels of success with 90.0 percent or more of graduates engaged in study or employment over the last four years.
Figure A8.5: Percentage of public school year 12 graduates employed or studying six months after completing year 12
Source:
- ACT Government Budget Paper 4, 2013-14
- Productivity Commission, Report on Government Services 2011, Table 4A.133, Report on Government Services 2012, Table 4A.108 and Report on Government Services 2013, Table 4A.112
Note:
Australian rate is for 15-24 years old engaged in full-time study or employment in May 2009, 2010 and 2011 after finishing year 12 in 2008, 2009 and 2010 respectively.
Leadership and Corporate Development
To ensure that the Directorate is recognised as a responsive, innovative and
high-achieving organisation that delivers on its commitments.
Parent and carer satisfaction
The satisfaction of parents and carers with education in public schools shows the confidence of stakeholders in the educational policies and performance of the Directorate.
Box A8.6: Parent and carer satisfaction
Parent and carer satisfaction is based on a survey of parents and carers of students attending ACT public schools. The survey is conducted in May and June each year. Responses are sought from parents and carers to 17 questions.
In determining overall parent and carer satisfaction, the question 'Overall I am satisfied with my child's education at this school' is used. Responses are collected on a five point scale with only statements of 'agree' or 'strongly agree' being used to calculate overall satisfaction rates.
In 2012, 7,480 parents and carers of students responded to the survey.
Further information on the quality of this measure can be obtained by emailing to ETDAnnualReport@act.gov.au
Figure A8.6 indicates that there was a high level of parent and carer satisfaction with education at public schools over the last four years. Satisfaction levels improved from 83.3 percent in 2011 to 86.0 percent in 2012. There is no comparative data at the national level on parent and carer satisfaction.
Figure A8.6: Overall satisfaction of parents and carers with the education provided at their public school
Source: ACT Government Budget Paper 4, 2013-14
Staff retention
Staff retention is an indicator of the satisfaction of the workforce of an organisation, including satisfaction with management and commitment to achieving corporate goals. While some turnover of staff is important to ensure the organisation is generating new ideas and skills, stability is essential to maintain corporate knowledge and culture. The Directorate has set its staff retention target at 92.0 percent to adequately balance these competing needs of new ideas and stability.
Box A8.7: Staff retention
The staff retention rate is expressed as a percentage of all staff retained in the financial year.
The rate is calculated by dividing the number of permanent staff employed at the last pay day in June of the preceding year plus the number of commencements during the financial year, minus the number of separations in the same financial year, by the number of staff at the last pay day of the preceding year and commencements during the financial year.
The indicator is based on the headcount of all permanent school-based and office-based staff in all classification streams. Staff on long service leave are excluded from these counts.
Further information on the quality of this measure can be obtained by emailing to ETDAnnualReport@act.gov.au
The Directorate has historically maintained a high staff retention rate. The retention rate of 93.9 percent in 2012 was similar to previous years and close to the target (Figure A8.7). There is no comparative data at the national level.
Figure A8.7: Staff retention rate
Source: ACT Government Budget Paper 4, 2013-14