The National Assessment Programme – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual national assessment for all students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9. Students in these year levels participate in tests, during the first term, over a two week testing period. These tests cover essential skills such as reading, spelling, grammar and punctuation, writing and numeracy. It is important to remember that the results from these tests, at classroom and school reporting level, is one of a number of assessments used by teachers to measure student progress. Good Counsel Primary School teaches and reports on subjects developed by Catholic Education and ACARA (for the Australian Curriculum): English, Mathematics, Religion, Science, History, Geography, The Arts, Technology, Health and Physical Education and Languages.
All student participation in these tests is something we strongly encourage, although parents do have the right to withdraw their child/ren from some or all of these tests. The percentages of participation we have here at Good Counsel Primary, on an average are greater than that of all schools across Australia and of ‘Similar Schools’ (students from statistically similar backgrounds, and levels of educational advantage). This is something of which, we are very proud.
Our student results, over the years, do vary slightly from test to test and from Year cohort to cohort, but on-a-whole, students at Good Counsel Primary demonstrate at or above average results. At the time of year when results arrive back from ACARA, our staff is involved in detailed analysis of all areas which then informs planning and teaching at a whole school, classroom and learning support level.
Further information for parents about the NAPLAN tests can be viewed on http://www.nap.edu.au/