NAPLAN: Catholic girls’ school Mount St Joseph Milperra achieves top results in numeracy

GRACE Bourke, 15, is the face of a Catholic girls’ school that is nailing NAPLAN numeracy recording a huge jump in results.

Year 10 student Grace Bourke, 15, attends Mount St Joseph Milperra. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

GRACE BOURKE is the face of a Catholic girls’ school that is nailing NAPLAN numeracy recording a huge jump in results.

The Year 10 student improved her scores by two whole bands between Year 7 and Year 9 to place in the top group of numeracy students for NAPLAN.

Grace with proud mum Louise Bourke. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

But Grace, 15, is far from alone at Mount St Joseph Milperra as teaching and learning co-ordinator Jenny Symington says the strong results are reflected right across the southwestern Sydney school in Maths.

“Our numeracy is pretty amazing and unusual for a girls’ high school,” Ms Symington said.

“Our students work in teams and don’t see numbers as scary but more of a challenge to be tackled.”

Grace said: “It’s probably because we have such passionate Maths teachers.

“The school has a good community feel and it is not so formal so that makes everything less stressful.”

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Grace’s mum Louise said she was happy Mount St Joseph put special emphasis on Maths employing talented and committed teachers.

“Grace’s English results are always high as well and that is probably due to the fact she has been reading since she was about two,” she said.

As for Grace, she now has the HSC in her sights and a possible career in law, medicine or aviation.

For now, though she is pleased her NAPLAN days are behind her.

“I’m happy that it is goodbye and thank you,” she said.