Dozens of schools refusing to implement national standards after almost three years face "consequences" from the Government.

The Sunday Star-Times has obtained an official list of 25 schools that have failed to produce any results for the national standards in literacy and numeracy.

"My comment to those schools is what other parts of the law do you want to ignore?" Education Review Office chief executive Graham Stoop said. "How can you be an exemplary school and not follow the legal framework?"

A review by his office suggests the 25 schools refusing any kind of national standards reporting is only a fraction of many more not taking them up fully.

The review, released last week, found 28 per cent of all schools were "yet to meet the requirements". Reasons included "leadership issues", and teachers who needed "more development".

Some schools were adamantly opposed to their implementation. "The national standards are the law," Stoop said. "There is a legal responsibility for schools to implement the curriculum. There is a legal responsibility with respect to a whole range of things."

If schools continued to refuse to implement the standards they would be reported to the Education Ministry and the ERO would come back more often, he said.

"There are consequences, obviously. No school will get a four to five-year return from us, for example. If they're not complying with the law, how could you?"

Education Minister Hekia Parata suggested parents would hold schools not implementing the standards to account.

"Teachers and principals consistently describe themselves as a profession, and we all know that there are standards and characteristics to a profession. Where particular schools or members of a school aren't reflecting those standards, I think that's something for a board to take up, or for parents to give that feedback."

But Principals Federation president Paul Drummond yesterday backed schools continuing to hold out on providing results.

"I think it's entirely appropriate for a board to make that decision, and they have to evaluate that in their own contexts. I would be supporting any school that made a considered decision about its stance on national standards."

He said results from schools that had not released data would be unlikely to reflect their success.

"They are meeting really, really high-end challenges that are to do with equity," Drummond said. "[They] . . . are doing incredible things in terms of supporting families financially, in social services terms, and even eating, clothing - really basic needs. I don't think standards fairly reflect the success of some of those schools."

NO RESULTS

Education Ministry list of schools that failed to provide national standards data Canterbury: Burnham, Lyttelton Main, Tamariki, View Hill Wellington: *Kimi Ora, *Mahinawa Resource Centre, Pirinoa, Porirua, Pukeatua Primary, **Raphael House Steiner, Te Ra, Trentham Kapiti: Waikanae Wairarapa: Masterton Intermediate Waikato: Hamilton West, Ngapuke Auckland: *Carlson, Glenfield Primary, Marshall Laing, **Michael Park Northland: Hikurangi, Kaikohe Intermediate, Matihetihe, Otamatea High, Te Hapua, Whau Valley * Special schools negotiating with Education Ministry over privacy concerns ** Rudolf Steiner/Waldorf schools not required to use national standards last year

- © Fairfax NZ News

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