Public schools out-performing rich privates in NAPLAN tests

PUBLIC schools are academically outperforming lavishly resourced elite private colleges which charge parents up to $30,000 a year for their children’s tuition, the latest NAPLAN scores reveal. SEE THE HONOUR ROLL

PUBLIC schools are outperforming elite private colleges that charge parents up to $30,000 a year in the latest­ NAPLAN scores.

Students in Year 5 at Hornsby North Public School outscored children at nearby Barker College in reading, writing, spelling, grammar and numeracy, while Hornsby’s Year 3 students scored higher in four out of five disciplines.

The National Assessment Program — Literacy and Numeracy data released on the My School website shows many government and low-fee Catholic schools are achieving on par or better than the wealthiest colleges.

Two government schools — Canley Vale High in Sydney’s southwest and Northern Beaches Secondary College, Balgowlah Boys Campus — have achieved “super school” status by making the NAPLAN honour roll for the fourth year in a row.

Andrea Vega, 10, Hannah Kim, 9, Isabel Coelho, 11, Macklin Stranack, 8, and Gretel Lazenby, 9. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Canley Vale High, which has fees and contributions of just $366 per student, and Balgowlah Boys have recorded major improvements over an extended period.

The results also show top-performing government comprehensive Cheltenham Girls High School is recording similar scores in the core subjects to the nearby high-fee Loreto Normanhurst.

Government schools make up almost half of a NAPLAN­ honour list of 17 schools where students have made substantial gains to rank their school among the high achievers.

Catholic and other religious-based schools make up the other half of the list provided to The Daily Telegraph by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority.

Hornsby North Public principal Maree Sumpton said the NAPLAN result “goes to show that it is about the quality of teaching and engagement of the students and the relationship between students and teachers”.

“We have an aspiring leadership program and a very strong mentor program,” she said. “The kids here have a very good work ethic.”

Mount St Joseph Milperra was among the Catholic schools with strong improvements. Teaching and learning co-ordinator Jenny Symington said the strong numeracy result was “unusual for a girls high school”.

“Our girls really love maths and it’s a positive culture­ here,” she said.

ACARA chief Rob Randall said My School website had been updated with the 2017 NAPLAN results and other information about schools across the nation.

“We know that schools are more than just NAPLAN results­ however … (it) is a valuable source of data for parents and educators,” he said. “My School is about enabling­ fair comparisons between­ schools and celebrating success where we see schools have achieved gains in results over time.”

MAKING THE GRADE

Honour Roll of schools whose students made substantial gains to excel at NAPLAN

■ Brigidine College, Randwick (Catholic)

■ Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College, Kensington (Catholic)

■ Kensington Public School (Govt)

■ Maroubra Junction Public School (Govt)

■ Glebe Public School (Govt)

■ Hornsby North Public School (Govt)

■ Northern Beaches Secondary College, Balgowlah Boys Campus (Govt)

■ St Kevin’s Catholic Primary School, Dee Why (Catholic)

■ Northcross Christian School, Ryde (Christian)

■ North Ryde Public School (Govt)

■ Meadowbank Education Trust School, Oatlands (Independent)

■ St Martha’s Catholic Primary School, Strathfield (Catholic)

■ St Anne’s Catholic Primary School, Strathfield South (Catholic)

■ Auburn North Public School (Govt)

■ Al-Faisal College, Auburn (Islamic)

■ Catherine McAuley Westmead (Catholic)

■ Seven Hills North Public School (Govt)