Bermuda's public school students are performing two years behind their US peers, according to a new achievement test.

Results of the Stanford Diagnostic Test have not officially been released to parents or the public.

But The Royal Gazette understands that students -- from Primary 3 through Senior 3 -- struggled with the test which was administered throughout the school system for the first time late last year. Results were down by two years across the board.

While education officials yesterday declined to give specific details about the test results, one source said their release would do more harm than good.

"Public schools are already under fire,'' the insider said. "People are already pulling their children out and placing them in private schools.

Releasing the results would not help.'' However, the disappointing results -- particularly among Primary 3 students who were sitting their first standardised test -- were attributed to the lack of preparation of students and staff.

A practice test for Primary 3 students and post test were administered for other standardised achievement tests such as the California Achievement Test (CAT) and Terra Nova, according to the source.

"The Stanford test is based on timing and it dealt with more lengthy word problems. They (Primary 3 students) should have had some form of practice.

After years four, five and six they don't need it.'' Such achievement tests were always followed up with a post test, the source added.

"This way they have something with which to compare the first results.'' While the former Education Minister Tim Smith's reasons for having the Stanford test administered may have been well intended -- prior to the test there was no achievement test for all levels of the school system, the source said "all the players need to know what is going on''.

There have been no formal discussions with teachers, parents and the Education Ministry since the test results came back.

But senior education officer for curriculum, instruction and evaluation Maxine Esdaille said education officials have been having ongoing discussions "if not in person, indirectly'' with the new Education Minister -- Premier Jennifer Smith -- and the Acting Minister Milton Scott.

And she admitted that while the results "were not at the level that we would have been happy with'', she was not startled by them.

"As Dr. (Gene) Jongsman (of Stanford University) pointed out when she was here, it is not uncommon that the first time a system does a test the results may not be very good,'' Ms Esdaille said.

"The results that were important to me were not the grade equivalent, but the percentile.'' Responding to the claim that students were not prepared for the test, she said all but the Primary 3 students were accustomed to standardised testing.

She added that most schools were already administering the Stanford test on a "class-by-class basis''.

However, she admitted that it would have been helpful for the Primary 3 students to have a practice test.

And she said: "We have not had a directive from the Minister about a post test.'' Ms Smith is in London on Government business and Mr. Scott, who was reached away from his office, said he could not comment without the test material in front of him.