Hon Anne Tolley (Minister of Education) replied: Teacher unions say they want a trial to test the National Standards. National Standards are based on clear evidence about what lifts student achievement. I have directed $26 million towards professional development support to schools. I have put in place a comprehensive monitoring programme and indicated from the beginning that if adjustments are needed these will be made. I believe that full national implementation with careful monitoring and evaluation is a better approach for long-term programmes like National Standards, than a trial in just a few schools. Most of the country’s schools are getting on with implementing National Standards.