Underdog NT schools defy the odds with outstanding, above average NAPLAN results

From remote outback towns to urban centres, underdog schools are smashing academic expectations with NAPLAN results that rival their private school peers. See where your school ranks.

Wagaman Primary School was identified as an ‘over achiever’ in the NT News analysis. Picture: Supplied

Underdog public and religious schools are rewriting the narrative on educational disadvantage after achieving impressive NAPLAN results.

Analysis of NAPLAN data across the country has revealed which schools with student populations from more disadvantaged backgrounds are posting above average scores.

The NT News analysed the 2024 NAPLAN results of Territory students in Year 5 and 9 at schools ranked in the bottom 50 per cent of social and educational advantage.

This ranking, known as an ICSEA score, takes into account how remote a campus is, the proportion of Indigenous students and the education level of students’ parents.

The analysis identified schools across the Territory, including many in remote settings, to find out the schools punching above their weight when it comes to NAPLAN outcomes.

One over achieving school was Wagaman Primary School in Darwin’s northern suburbs.

“We have a diverse student cohort,” principal Mandy McKinnon said.

“Almost 50 per cent of students have a language background other than English and 26 per cent of our students are Indigenous.

Teacher Rhiannon Horne with Year 1/2 students at over achieving Wagaman Primary School. Picture: Supplied

“One in three are identified as requiring interventions or adjustments to the curriculum to support them.”

Despite this student profile, Wagaman was able to record well-above the Territory average across all NAPLAN subjects.

The principal credits the school’s adoption of explicit teaching strategies for the achievement.

“We did a lot of work as staff to keep up to date with the latest educational research and that research told us explicit teaching is the way to go,” Ms McKinnon said.

Year 3/4 teacher Gemma Chadbourne described explicit teaching as telling students what they will be learning and how to achieve it.

Ms Chadbourne with a Year 2/3 class. Picture: Supplied

“It’s important to have really quality clear instructions which targets all students all at once and reduces the amount of interventions we have to give,” she said.

In June, the NT government launched a back to basics literacy and numeracy education focus with explicit teaching at its core, departing from inquiry based learning approaches.

The Department of Education doubled down on the explicit teaching method in response to abysmal Territory NAPLAN results for 2025.

Department senior director Warren Giles said the focus on explicit teaching had led to “powerful gains” among some of the Territory’s most disadvantaged schools.

“Across Darwin schools, we are seeing powerful gains in student growth and achievement through high-quality explicit instruction in reading and mathematics – with some of the most significant impact in schools facing the greatest social and economic disadvantage,” Mr Giles said.

Students at Gray Primary School have been learning through explicit instruction since 2019. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Wagaman is four years into its explicit teaching journey, but the principal and teacher explained it’s not their only approach to teaching and learning.

“We really work hard to know our learners and connect with our students and community,” Ms McKinnon said.

“Our positive school culture has supported us in all of our work.”

“We have a whole school commitment which gives us a clear direction when it comes to teaching and learning,” Ms Chadbourne said.

“We have high expectations for learners and teachers as well.”

Originally published as Underdog NT schools defy the odds with outstanding, above average NAPLAN results