PIPS AUSTRALIA

PIPS stands for Performance Indicators in Primary Schools. PIPS On-Entry Baseline Assessment is administered by Murdoch University and offered to schools and systems in Australia . This Baseline Assessment of literacy and numeracy is one of a range of assessments developed by the Curriculum Evaluation and Management Centre (CEM) at the University of Durham, UK, under Director Professor Peter Tymms and his colleagues. The PIPS Australia project helps primary schools to identify students' literacy and numeracy skills as they enter primary school. PIPS On-Entry Baseline Assessment also helps to monitor individual progress through the first year of schooling.  This CD-ROM assessment is implemented one-to-one by teachers with students. The data that is generated can assist with diagnosing and predicting performance in the areas of literacy, numeracy and phonological awareness.  The assessment offers benefits including identifying potential students at risk and gifted students, providing valuable information on how well a student can expect to perform by the end of the year given their individual starting point and providing concrete evidence on the spread of abilities within the class and school.

PIPS was introduced to Australia in 2001 and in 2005, PIPS is being used in 592 schools.  This includes over 250 government, catholic and independent schools in WA across many geographic locations, including remote schools and schools of the air.  In addition, all government schools in ACT, all government and catholic schools in TAS, and numerous schools in QLD , NT , SA and NSW use the PIPS assessment.

We anticipate more than 600 schools to register in 2006. Schools in the Catholic Education Office of Sale in Victoria are joining PIPS for the first time. Next year PIPS will be used by schools in all Australian states and territories.

PIPS Director: Helen Wildy
PIPS Project Coordinator: Eva Tam
PIPS Project Officer: Danny Sherman

More Information on PIPS

PIPS stands for “Performance Indicators in Primary Schools