NAPLAN, Canberra: Data reveals best performing primary and high school

NAPLAN data shows Canberra’s best performing schools include leafy private schools and suburban public schools. We reveal the ACT’s top 10 performing primary and high schools.

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The latest round of controversial NAPLAN testing has revealed Canberra’s top performing schools.

Canberra Grammar School returned to the top of the table as the national capital’s top performing high school, based on the combined test results from Year 7 and Year 9.

The school, which has fees of more than $25,000 a year from Year 8 to Year 12, has consistently proven itself among the top performing schools in Canberra.

Canberra Grammar School (CGS) is a coeducational independent Anglican School. Its Year 7 and 9 students did better in NAPLAN testing than those from all other schools in Canberra.

Head of Senior School David Smart said the Canberra Grammar was focused on far more than the basic skills that students are tested on in each round of NAPLAN tests.

“Our focus is on developing students who are curious, creative, confident, compassionate citizens of the world with a focus on developing critical-thinking capacities,” Mr Smart said.

“I believe our keys to success within our academic performance are our inspiring teachers, inquisitive students, and supportive parents; a sense of belonging and connection encourages a culture of learning.”

Canberra Grammar School.

Students at the school’s Year 7 and 9 cohorts had average test results of 610.8 points, narrowly edging out Canberra Girls Grammar and Radford College.

The three private schools were followed by two public schools, Lyneham High School and Telopea Park School, both of which draw from well-heeled suburbs in Canberra’s inner north and inner south, respectively.

The NAPLAN test remains controversial, and as for years been criticised by the union movement and some educators.

The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, the federal body responsible for developing national curriculum and assessment, this year revamping the MySchool website where school’s NAPLAN results are publicly displayed.

Focus groups across the country found MySchool was difficult to navigate and was filled with technical language and jargon

Canberra Girls Grammar, which has also performed consistently well over the past five years and says its secret is a commitment to single-sex education, had the best performing cohort of Year 3 and 5 students, with an average score of 518.3 points.

Canberra Grammar School in Red Hill.

Canberra’s top 10 performing high schools

Canberra Grammar School: 610.8 points

Canberra Girls Grammar School: 609.5 points

Radford College: 603.2 points

Lyneham High School: 593.8 points

Telopea Park School: 591.6 points

Burgmann Anglican School: 589.8 points

Alfred Deakin High School: 586.2 points

Trinity Christian School: 586.2 points

Brindabella Christian College: 585.8 points

Blue Gum Community School: 584.1 points

Canberra’s top 10 performing primary schools

Canberra Girls Grammar School: 518.3 points

Aranda Primary School: 504.0 points

Canberra Grammar School: 502.1 points

Radford College: 497.2 points

Garran Primary School: 493.1 points

Burgmann Anglican School: 491.9 points

Emmaus Christian School: 491.7 points

Telopea Park School: 489.4 points

Brindabella Christian College: 489.1 points

Sts Peter and Paul Primary School: 488.3 points