School Reporting and Data Collection

Independent schools must meet a range of reporting requirements, including reporting to governments through the school annual report, a Census return, and the ACARA student background data collection, and to parents through student reports.

Regulation Team
02 9299 2845

School Annual Report

The Australian Government and NESA require schools to publish an annual school report each year. AISNSW members may access a guide to these requirements through the link provided below.

Annual Report

ACARA SBD

ACARA conducts a Student Background Data (SBD) collection annually for information on student language plus parental education and occupation to calculate Socio-Educational Advantage and Disadvantaged Language Background other than English (DLBOTE).

ACARA SBD

Non-Government Schools Census

The Australian Government conducts a Non-Government School Census (Census) on the first Friday of August each year. The Census collects information on students and staff from all non-government schools, with data used to contribute to the calculation of recurrent funding and to form part of the school’s profile published by ACARA on the My School website.

2023 CENSUS REQUIREMENTS

Reporting to parents

In reporting to parents, schools are required to provide information as specified by the Australian Government in s59 of the Australian Education Regulation 2013. A report must be provided at least twice a year to each person responsible for each student at the school. For students in years 1 to 10, the report must give an accurate and objective assessment of the student’s progress and achievement, including against any available national standards; relative to the performance of the student’s peer group; and reported as A, B, C, D or E (or on an equivalent 5 point scale) for each subject studied; or contain information that the Minister determines is equivalent.

Other reporting

Although not the focus of this page, there are a significant number of other requirements which impact on independent schools including reporting for school boards, ASIC, child protection for students and, from an employment perspective, overseas students.

School Reporting and Data Collection Resources

Explore all AISNSW school reporting and data collection resources.
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