NAPLAN 2022: Kingswood Public School and Penrith High School best performers in the area

The top performing NAPLAN schools have been revealed for Penrith, with public schools largely coming out on top. See where your school ranked.

NAPLAN students at St Pauls Grammar School Cranebrook

The best performing schools NAPLAN in Penrith have been revealed with public schools coming out on top, with students from Kingswood Public School and Cranebrook High School exceeding the national average in reading, writing, spelling, grammar and numeracy.

Assessed on reading, writing, spelling, grammar and numeracy skills, the NAPLAN exams (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) are rolled out annually to Years three, five, seven and nine – and the results from 2022 have revealed public schools are exceeding national standards.

For primary school NAPLAN testing, Kingswood Public school ranked the highest with their students outperforming the national average.

Principal Norma Petrocco said the results reflect the school’s focus on literacy and numeracy skills.

“We are very proud of our students‘ achievements in NAPLAN. These results have been achieved with a strong focus on literacy and numeracy across Key Learning Areas with an emphasis on differentiation of the curriculum to meet the learning needs of our students.”

Ms Petrocco also praised her teaching staff for working diligiently with their students, helping them to develop resilience over the two years of disrupted learning.

Following close behind was Wollemi College at Werrington, whose Year 3 and Year 5 students performed well above the national average in all five cohorts, although reading, writing and spelling were where the students really shone.

NAPLAN students at Wollemi College Werrington

Headmaster of the all boys Catholic school, James Ramos said staff were “delighted” with the results from the latest round of NAPLAN testing.

NAPLAN students at Wollemi College Werrington

“There has been a marked increase in higher bands over time in Years 3 and 5. Considering the disruptions students have experienced over the last three years, seeing results continue to improve over time is very encouraging,” he said.

Mr Ramos also said the excellent results in reading, writing and spelling were thanks to the school’s strategic focus on literacy skills across the last two years.

Taking a look at how the secondary schools faired Penrith High School came out on top with its students exceeding national standards in literacy and numeracy for the seventh year in a row.

Following close behind was St Paul’s Grammar t Cranebrook, a coeducational Christian school catering from kindergarten to Year 12.

Year 7 and 9 students from St Paul’s scored above average across in all four categories, and ranked “well above” the national average for grammar.

Principal Ian Wake described the results as “outstanding” considering the disruption to the students learning over the last couple of years.

“We are incredibly proud of the way in which our students approach all aspects of learning, including standardised tests such as NAPLAN,” he said.

Mr Wake also said it was important to note NAPLAN wasn’t indicative of student achievement across the board, rather the testing is “ just one measure of student achievement at a specific time in their education”.

Cranebrook High School also was one of the best performing NAPLAN schools in the area, which Principal Craig Dunne chalks up to “a culture of high expectations in the classrooms.”

“The school provides high levels of individualised supports for students. A growing sense of belonging and connectedness to school is important and this has led to high levels of commitment to learning. Our school’s wellbeing program also supports students at every level,” Mr Dunne said.