Riverland primary school defying the odds to record some of the best NAPLAN test results in Australia
An SA country primary school is defying the odds to record some of the best NAPLAN results in the country.
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A Riverland school driven by its “positive culture” has achieved national academic success against all odds.
A study has found Cobdogla Primary is the only SA primary school to be among the least advantaged quarter of schools in Australia, yet recorded NAPLAN results – averaged over three years – above national achievement levels.
The research by the Centre for Independent Studies found only 18 primary schools across the country made the select group and half hailed from Victoria.
Cobdogla principal David Ness put the school’s success down to its positive culture, high expectations, and constant tracking of every child’s progress.
“The big thing that sets our school apart is the school culture,” says Mr Ness, who stresses the community does not view itself as “disadvantaged”.
“The students and the staff are all on board. Everyone’s coming to school to learn and there’s a real focus and rigour.
“English and maths is a big focus and ensuring every single child is progressing.”
Mr Ness says a measure of the culture is that it’s rare to find a teacher in the staffroom at lunchtime.
“They’re out with the kids, coaching a footy match or playing table tennis with the kids. The kids know we are there for them.
“All the teachers have really high expectations in all aspects – learning, behaviour, sporting things as well.
“When we have TRTs (relief teachers) come in, they always say ‘this is the school I’d like to teach at because the teachers and the kids are so friendly’.”
He says Cobdogla has become a “destination school”, with enrolment numbers near doubling from 63 in 2010 to 118 this year. “With our high NAPLAN results, we’ve got a reputation in the whole of the Riverland.”
Mr Ness says the school’s strengths aren’t just academic, pointing to its wellbeing program and winning the statewide school tennis tournament two years running.
The study by CIS researcher Blaise Joseph analysed NAPLAN results from 2015-17 and used the national Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage, which measures advantage by parents’ occupations and education levels, geographic location and their proportion of indigenous students.
It found common themes among the schools that overcame disadvantage included discipline, comprehensive early reading programs and data-informed teaching.
Year 7 student Adele Hoffman, 12, says the school community is “like one giant family”.