Most improved Riverina NAPLAN schools revealed in last five years

The biggest NAPLAN improvers for schools in the Riverina region have been revealed along with the schools which have gone backwards. See the full list.

Millah O'Callaghan and fellow Mathoura Public School students. Picture: supplied

Gundagai South Public School in South Gundagai recorded the biggest improvement for a primary school with the average Year 5 NAPLAN results increasing by 17.91 per cent over the past five years of NAPLAN.

Mathoura Public School at Mathoura was the second best with an increase of 16.67 per cent followed by Temora West Public School at Temora with an increase of 11.78 per cent.

Meanwhile, The Rock Central School in The Rock recorded the biggest improvement for a secondary school with average year 9 NAPLAN results increasing by 10.0 per cent over the past five years of NAPLAN.

Hay War Memorial High School at Hay was the second best with a 7.71 per cent increase followed by Tumbarumba High School at Tumbarumba with an increase of 5.07 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 Mary’s Parish School in Hay recorded the lowest improvement for a primary school with the average Year 5 NAPLAN results returning a result of -9.89 per cent over the past five years of NAPLAN.

Barellan Central School in Barellan recorded the lowest improvement for a secondary school returning a result of -15.45 per cent over the past five years.

For Mathoura Public School principal Janice Eddy, scoring the third highest improvement result made her extremely proud.

She said there was a lot behind the trend.

“Firstly, our students genuinely display a love of learning — they love improving their knowledge,” Ms Eddy said.

“And then we also have an amazing group of dedicated teachers and support staff, who … (are always) catering for every student’s individual needs”.

Tumbarumba High School’s Class of 2022. Picture: supplied

Ms Eddy said teachers rely on data to inform their progress and give effective feedback.

“Our parents also play an important role,” she said.

“They want the best outcomes for their children; we‘ve been offering educational workshops, and they’ve been extremely well supported by our school community”.

Tumbarumba High School principal Michael Blenkins said he was thrilled his school was among the Riverina’s top secondary school NAPLAN improvers.

“We’re immensely proud that our kids are heading in the right direction,” Mr Blenkins said.

“We’re a community that has been adversely affected by the black summer bushfires … but I think the kids have been really keen to get back to some sort of normality and apply themselves following the bushfires as well as the Covid period.”

Being principal of the school of 170 students had been a privilege, Mr Blenkins said, noting he’d been teaching at the school 22 years and was now teaching the children of his original students.

“I’ve also been blessed with really quite brilliant staff and a very stable staff here at Tumbarumba High,” he said.

“Every day is a joy.”

Riverina top primary school NAPLAN improvers over five years

Gundagai South Public School: 17.91 per cent

Mathoura Public School: 16.67 per cent

Temora West Public School: 11.78 per cent

Franklin Public School: 10.78 per cent

Tocumwal Public School: 10.01 per cent

Riverina top secondary school NAPLAN improvers over five years

The Rock Central School: 10.0 per cent

Hay War Memorial High School: 7.71 per cent

Tumbarumba High School: 5.07 per cent

Coolamon Central School: 4.81 per cent

Saint Mary MacKillop College Albury: 4.3 per cent