NAPLAN: Hunter schools that have improved the most in five years

The biggest NAPLAN improvers for schools in the Hunter Region have been revealed along with the schools which have gone backwards.

​

Transitioning kids early to reduce stress, cultural awareness and challenging their students to want to learn – it is a collaborative approach at Lake Macquarie High School which is reaping rewards.

The burgeoning Booragul school, which has exploded from 350 students to over 500 in the past few years, has recorded the biggest improvement for a secondary school with average year 9 NAPLAN results increasing by 6.99 per cent over the past five years of NAPLAN.

Manning Valley Anglican College at Cundletown was the second best with a 4.45 per cent increase followed by Irrawang High School at Raymond Terrace with an increase of 3.96 per cent.

Lake Macquarie High School has been the most improved secondary school across the Hunter for NAPLAN results, with cultural programs and awareness reaping benefits. Picture: Facebook.

Lake Macquarie High School principal Brendan Maher, who moved to Booragul after time working at a central school, said getting students ready for secondary school while still at primary school level had assisted in their growth.

“We just had 120 students here for five days and being mentored by year 10 students,” Mr Maher said.

“So they are ready for high school before they actually come here full-time. It gives them confidence and also breaks down any fears they have about transitioning.”

With nearly a quarter of the students being of Aboriginal, Torres Strait or Polynesian heritage, Mr Maher said cultural programs were extremely important.

And a closer look at individual performances in numeracy and literacy – where teachers have been able to bring students who may have fallen years behind their peers back on par – had also reaped benefits.

“If kids are confident they are going to challenge themselves more and therefore will naturally improve and I think that is where we are getting traction,” Mr Maher said.

Lake Macquarie High School has been the most improved secondary school across the Hunter for NAPLAN results. Picture: Facebook.

“It just came down to we had a look at the good look at the kids as individuals and how we can help them improve. The parents have really backed us and the staff have all worked so hard in implementing the ideas.”

Fern Bay Public School recorded the biggest improvement for a primary school with the average Year 5 NAPLAN results increasing by 19.58 per cent over the past five years of NAPLAN.

Boolaroo Public School at Boolaroo was the second best with an increase of 16.86 per cent followed by Islington Public School at Islington with an increase of 13.84 per cent.

Fern Bay Public School principal Drew Janetzki said engaging students individually had also assisted as the school boomed from just 27 pupils in 2015 to over 160 set to start next year.

Fern Bay Public School's literacy program has assisted in it becoming one of the most improved schools in the Hunter for NAPLAN results. Picture: Facebook.

“We are grateful for the support of our community here, it really values education,” Mr Janetzki said.

“We have a strong partnership with the P and C Association who supports our visions as well.

“We have simplified our learning on reading and numeracy and are seeing the benefits.”

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 Pius X Primary School in Windale recorded the lowest improvement for a primary school with the average Year 5 NAPLAN results returning a result of -14.04 per cent over the past five years of NAPLAN.

While, Merriwa Central School in Merriwa recorded the lowest improvement for a secondary school returning a result of -7.44 per cent over the past five years.

Hunter top primary school NAPLAN improvers over five years

Fern Bay Public School: 19.58 per cent

Boolaroo Public School: 16.86 per cent

Islington Public School: 13.84 per cent

Broke Public School: 13.08 per cent

Taree Public School: 12.04 per cent

Hunter top secondary school NAPLAN improvers over five years

Lake Macquarie High School: 6.99 per cent

Manning Valley Anglican College: 4.45 per cent

Irrawang High School: 3.96 per cent

Hunter Sports High School: 3.72 per cent

Callaghan College Wallsend Campus: 3.63 per cent