‘The best chance of supporting our students’: Wellbeing is a crucial factor in NAPLAN success

With NAPLAN testing set to start on Wednesday around the country, an SA study of more than 200,000 students has exposed the key to getting the best results.

Richmond Primary School students Divyant 10, Samantha 11, Amelia 9, Will, 9, and Hana, 10, are made to feel confident at school. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Emotional wellbeing plays an important role in the academic success of students, according to a world-first South Australian study, as children across the country are set to begin national literacy and numeracy testing.

The University of South Australia research involving 215,000 students, released this week ahead of the start of the NAPLAN testing period, found that wellbeing is “a crucial factor” in academic success.

The study looked at how wellbeing factors, including the ability to stay focused, overcome challenges and believe in their ability to succeed, affected academic results.

Almost 1.3 million students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9, across 9400 campuses in Australia are set to begin the nine-day NAPLAN testing period on Wednesday.

Among them are Richmond Primary School year 5 students Divyant, Hana and Will.

Richmond Primary School Students Divyant 10, Samantha 11, Amelia 9, Will, 9, and Hana 10 feel confident at school, which leads to better academic results. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Divyant, 9, said he was feeling confident ahead of the tests and that he learned best when he was “calm and not distracted”.

“I feel positive and I’ve been studying a lot,” said Divyant, who studied for four hours each weekend to prepare himself.

Testing becomes easier for his classmate Hana, 10, when she feels “proud of my work and I’m in a good mood”.

Will, also 9, was made part of a senior leadership team at the school, which made him proud to be at school.

The UniSA study, which referenced data from the Education Department’s annual wellbeing and engagement survey, and NAPLAN results between 2016 and 2019, showed that “schools must look beyond test scores and take a more personal, holistic approach to supporting students”, UniSA research fellow Benjamin Lam said.

“When students are mentally and emotionally healthy, they’re more likely to be engaged and motivated and perform better academically,” Mr Lam said.

Education Department chief executive Professor Martin Westwell said wellbeing and academic achievement “are intrinsically connected”.

“We not only have to build the academic knowledge of each student, but also build their confidence, resilience, and engagement to ensure they thrive both at school and in life beyond that,” Prof Westwell said.

The state government invested $50m to recruit 100 mental health and learning support specialists based on-site at schools, part of a plan which Education Minister Blair Boyer would provide “the best chance of supporting our students to achieve academically”.

NAPLAN testing will continue until March 24.

It is the third year since it was moved from May and new proficiency levels were introduced.

It will be the first time since the changes that schools can compare how the same year level group progressed since they did the tests two years ago.