Improving our Performance
The national assessment program –
literacy and numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual national assessment for all
students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9. NAPLAN is a skills test. It tests the
sorts of skills that are essential for every child to be successful in the Senior
Phase of Learning and beyond.
Students in Year 7 and 9 will
participate in tests in Reading, Writing, Language Conventions (spelling,
grammar and punctuation) and Numeracy.
Our target is to see each student
improve on their Year 5 and Year 7 NAPLAN results resulting in all students
achieving above national minimum standards. In order to achieve this
target, all year 7 and 9 students have been involved in a targeted skills development
program based on early diagnostic testing this year. Trial tests have
already been run to provide the school with an accurate picture of each
student’s reading and numeracy levels. The information from these tests is
used to inform the development of the NAPLAN preparation program as well as
curriculum programs. Each student receives targeted strategies every day
in every lesson that allows students to strengthen areas of weakness and build
on areas of strength.
The NAPLAN data gives students, parents,
teachers and schools valuable information about how students are
progressing. As a school, we use NAPLAN data to inform our planning and
instruction and actively engage targeted strategies and intervention to improve
literacy and numeracy outcomes for all students. The learning that our
Junior Secondary students engage in builds the foundation for the success in
the senior phase of learning and beyond.
NAPLAN tests are a routine part of
the school calendar. However students may be withdrawn from the testing program
by their parent/carer if there are religious beliefs of philosophical
objections to testing. This is a matter for consideration by parents/carers in
consultation with the school. A formal application must be received by the
School Principal prior to the testing.
All students are encouraged to
participate in NAPLAN tests. Students with disability may qualify for
adjustments that reflect the support normally provided in the classroom. A
formal exemption may be granted for a student with significant intellectual
disability and/or significant co-existing condition, or who has recently
arrived in Australia and is from a non-English speaking background.