Terms of reference - Independent Advisory Group for National Standards

Background

The Government is committed to the effective implementation of National Standards and is looking for advice on the Standards and the assessment practices used by teachers, school leaders and boards to assess against them.

Role and scope

The role of the Independent Advisory Group will be to provide different perspectives to the Minister of Education on aspects of the implementation of the National Standards policy.  The Independent Advisory Group will base this advice on consideration of reports from the Ministry of Education, by considering the work of any sector working groups, and their own knowledge and engagement with the sector.

In particular, the Advisory Group will:

• provide technical and educational advice on assessment approaches to support the implementation of National Standards 
• provide advice on the changes to be made to the design of the standards on the basis of assessment information and their own knowledge and expertise.

Process

The Independent Advisory Group will meet during 2010 to discuss progress in implementation, and specific issues as identified above.  The schedule of meetings will be confirmed at the first meeting.

The independent Chair of the Advisory Group will be Professor Emeritus Gary Hawke.

Other Independent Advisory Group members have been selected to provide a breadth of information about assessment (both technical and educational aspects).

Responsibility of Members

Members

• must act in the interests of all stakeholders including students and parents
• should not represent any particular organisation or voice.

Views expressed by members will not be taken as being those of their employer.

Confidentiality and Official Information

Advice provided by members of the Independent Advisory Group will be treated in confidence. Members will not disclose any confidential information or material provided to the Group by officials.

The Official Information Act 1982 will apply without exception to the activities of the Advisory Group. The Chair will be responsible for ensuring the members are aware of the provisions of the Act, and the extent to which written material from meetings is discoverable under it.

All media statements from the Group will be made by the Chair.