Bonalbo Central School most improved Clarence Valley school in NAPLAN

The most improved schools in the Clarence Valley region have been revealed. SEE THE RESULTS

Bonalbo Central School in Bonalbo recorded the biggest improvement for a primary school with the average Year 5 NAPLAN results increasing by 10.93 per cent over the past five years of NAPLAN.

The biggest NAPLAN improvers for schools in the Clarence Valley region have been revealed along with the schools which have gone backwards.

Bonalbo Central School in Bonalbo recorded the biggest improvement for a primary school with the average Year 5 NAPLAN results increasing by 10.93 per cent over the past five years of NAPLAN.

The highest performing Clarence Valley NAPLAN schools were revealed yesterday.

Tabulam Public School at Tabulam was the second best with an increase of 9.99 per cent followed by Iluka Public School at Iluka with an increase of 8.73 per cent.

Bonalbo Central School principal Kathryn Taylor said the school reassessed teaching approaches after Covid.

“Covid helped us shift how we manage teaching, with online platforms to support learning,” she said.

Ms Taylor said teachers worked harder than ever to focus on engaging students in their studies.

“It’s been really tough work,” she said.

Bonalbo Central School recorded the biggest improvement for a primary school with the average Year 5 NAPLAN results increasing by 10.93 per cent over the past five years.

Tutors were brought in to aid the school teachers.

Ms Taylor said the tutors allowed teachers to focus their attention on classrooms, rather than individuals.

“When you lift students up that may be muddling along, it drags everyone up,” she said.

Ms Taylor said teaching shortages across the nation impacted education and as a consequence educators were quitting early or considering early retirement.

“Teachers aren't lasting as long as they used to – they’re burning out,” she said.

Ms Taylor said they have been resorting to combining classes together, often teaching very large groups of kids.

She fears potential teachers will be afraid of entering the profession unless shortages can be addressed.

Ms Taylor said older and experienced teachers were less common than ever.

Ms Taylor said tutors were brought in to assist schools during Covid, allowing teachers to focus their attention on entire classrooms rather than individuals.

“You can have all the bells and whistles, but if you don’t have boots on the ground giving kids quality time they can’t learn,” she said.

Ms Taylor said that contributed to the school’s impressive 10 per cent improvement.

Principal for three years, Ms Taylor previously worked as a relief teacher and noticed the improvement first-hand.

She said it was gratifying to see the entire cohort advance.

“Fantastic individual results are great, but we want all kids to improve,” she said.

Bonalbo offers kindergarten to Year 12 classes, allowing a seamless progression into high school.

“Seeing them progress positively from essentially babies to adults is the most important thing,” she said.

Ms Taylor said the single most important aspect is having enough workers to support the children.

Meanwhile, Pacific Valley Christian School in Townsend recorded the biggest improvement for a secondary school with average Year 9 NAPLAN results increasing by 3.98 per cent over the past five years of NAPLAN.

South Grafton High School at South Grafton was the second best with a 3.19 per cent increase followed by Bonalbo Central School at Bonalbo with an increase of 3.06 per cent.

The analysis compared the five year change in NAPLAN results from 2017 and 2021 and revealed the schools which have improved their Year 5 and Year 9 student scores the most.

It was calculated by each school‘s combined results for each NAPLAN subject in 2017 and compared to the same results in 2021.

Meanwhile, St Andrew’s Christian School in Grafton recorded the lowest improvement for a primary school with the average Year 5 NAPLAN results returning a result of -13.42 per cent over the past five years of NAPLAN.

Clarence Valley Anglican School in Clarenza recorded the lowest improvement for a secondary school returning a result of -4.0 per cent over the past five years.

Clarence Valley top primary school NAPLAN improvers over five years:

– Bonalbo Central School: 10.93 per cent

– Tabulam Public School: 9.99 per cent

– Iluka Public School: 8.73 per cent

– Ulmarra Public School: 8.54 per cent

– Clarence Valley Anglican School: 6.22 per cent

Clarence Valley top secondary school NAPLAN improvers over five years:

– Pacific Valley Christian School: 3.98 per cent

– South Grafton High School: 3.19 per cent

– Bonalbo Central School: 3.06 per cent

– St Andrew‘s Christian School: 0.43 per cent

– Grafton High School: 0.15 per cent