Schools website splits parties

National wants wider access to a website which compares school's performance in order to open up the "culture of secrecy" in education.

Bill English wants the Government to provide access to the little known Schoolsmart website, which compares school finances and other factors such as staff turnover and student achievement.

It is currently accessible only to principals and chairs of boards.

"I've had a look at it and I can't for the life of me see any reason why parents shouldn't be able to see that information," said Mr English, National's education spokesman.

The debate has been sparked by news that Auckland's Avondale College has set up a website containing information about its students.

The Sunday Star Times reported yesterday that parents would be able to access data - including daily updates on detentions, NCEA progress reports and class attendance records - only on their own children.

Mr English said: "At last, a school has been brave enough to break the culture of secrecy in our education system. It will get parents more engaged with their children's education."

Education Minister Steve Maharey said today that Avondale College's website was a "good idea". But he was less enthusiastic about giving parents access to another website comparing schools' performances.

Mr Maharey said the National Party wanted to privatise schools and giving everyone access to the Schoolsmart website would simply set schools up in competition with one another.

"The information is best used by the school to ensure that they are lifting their performance," he said.

"What we don't want is on the front page of a newspaper, frankly, all the information about every school which then fuels this, kind of, competitive marketplace in public education," Mr Maharey said.

"I'm interested in all schools being good schools."

- NZPA