Report Writing For Teachers

Teacher Report Writing Guide

Write reports that inform, encourage and connect

Create clear, thoughtful report comments that help families understand a student’s progress and next steps. This practical guide gives teachers in Australia a simple structure for writing reports that recognise achievement, describe areas for growth and keep the focus on each child’s learning journey.

For classroom teachers, preschools, public and private schools, and homeschool educators.

Make report writing feel more manageable

When report time comes around, it can be hard to find the right words. This guide offers practical principles and sample comments to help you write with clarity, warmth and purpose.

Inside, you’ll find guidance on how to:

• Align reports with Australian Curriculum achievement standards and your school’s grading approach.
• Use clear, parent-friendly language instead of jargon or vague statements.
• Balance a student’s strengths with constructive next steps.
• Apply the WWW + EBI model: What Went Well and Even Better If.
• Personalise comments with a student’s name and specific examples of their learning.

See what constructive comments can look like

The guide includes sample comments for English, Mathematics and whole-report general comments. Examples show different achievement levels, with language that acknowledges progress and effort while identifying useful next steps.

A practical resource for different teaching settings

Use the guide as a reference when preparing school reports, reflecting on student learning or shaping communication with families. It’s suitable for classroom teachers, public and private school educators, preschool settings and homeschool educators. The sample subject comments focus on primary school year levels, so preschool and homeschool educators can adapt the principles to suit their learners.