NAPLAN results revealed: How the Central Coast performed

NAPLAN results for 2021 have been released with two Central Coast schools listed in the state’s top 100. It comes as changes are announced to the NAPLAN testing for 2023.

Two Central Coast schools have once again emerged in the top 100 in NSW for NAPLAN results.

The Australian Curriculum and Reporting Authority 2021 NAPLAN results have been revealed with Central Coast Grammar School and Gosford High school emerging as the region’s best.

NSW recorded some mixed results with some of the state’s most expensive high schools tanking while most selective schools managed to improve on results despite interruptions from the Covid pandemic.

Central Coast Grammar School, in Erina Heights, made the top 100 schools in the state in Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 results.

Central Coast Grammar School made the top 100 schools in all Years that sat the NAPLAN test.

Gosford High School came 21st in the state for high school NAPLAN results. Picture: Troy Snook

It placed 51st in the primary schools with an average score of 522.8, just ahead of Barker College in Sydney, and 60th in the high schools with an average score of 610.4.

A further look into the Australian Curriculum and Reporting Authority reveals the coast’s leading private school was well above the Australian average across all subjects from Years 3 to 9.

When comparing the 2021 average results to 2019 the school recorded increases for Years 3, 5 and 9 and a slight decrease of six points in Year 7.

Principal Bill Low congratulated all students, their families and teachers on “the learning progress achieved during these difficult two years so heavily impacted by Covid restrictions”.

Central Coast Grammar School principal Bill Low.

“When I look at the MySchool website I’m delighted to see Central Coast Grammar students making above average learning progress across the board in reading, writing and numeracy, from Year 3 to Year 9, compared to students of a similar background who had the same starting scores in 2019,” he said.

“This is testament to our sustained focus on driving continual improvement in literacy and numeracy as the foundation for learning across the curriculum. Being ranked at number 51 in the Top 100 primary schools in NSW and number 60 for secondary schools, confirms the Central Coast, and Central Coast Grammar School as the home of a first class education.”

Gosford High School shone as the top Central Coast high school coming in at number 21 in the top 100, with a Year 7 average of 642 and Year 9 average score of 668.4. The top scoring high schools scored in the early late 600s to early 700s.

A closer look at the selective school’s results revealed that Gosford High School performed well above average in terms of students with a similar background and when compared to all Australian students.

When compared with 2019 results, the school has maintained similar averages with a slight increase in its Year 7 results and a four point decrease in Year 9 results.

It comes as improvements to NAPLAN, including moving the test to Term 1 and returning results much earlier, come in from 2023 following a review.

Education and Early Learning Minister Sarah Mitchell said the changes will make NAPLAN a more effective diagnostic tool.

“These are necessary changes I have been pushing for over the past two years, particularly following the success of the NSW Check-In Assessments, which give teachers results within 48 hours,” Ms Mitchell said.

“Currently the timing of NAPLAN means it is not diagnostic, as students sit the tests quite late and results are delivered months later, minimising their value in the classroom.

“Delivering results earlier in the year means teachers have a better understanding of where their students are at and can develop classroom programs accordingly.”

St Edwards Christian College, East Gosford: Year 7 average of 540 points and Year 9 average of 576, recording below average figures in terms of students with similar backgrounds in reading writing, spelling and grammar. The 2021 results were close to the Australian average.

When compared to 2019, the school has improved in Year 7 however recorded a slight decrease for Year 9.

Lakes Grammar, Warnervale: Impressive results scoring above or well above the Australian average and average of students with similar backgrounds for most subjects across Years 3-9. Scored an average of 537 in Year 5 and 598 in Year 9.

Central Coast Adventist School, Erina: Achieved results above the Australian average in most areas from Years 3-9. Results were on par or slightly above 2019 figures.

St Joseph’s Catholic College, East Gosford: Achieved above average results for Years 7 and 9 in writing when compared to students with the same background however fell below average for numeracy. When compared with 2019, results were slightly higher by 4-6 points.

Coast Christian School, Bensville: Successful year with a majority of results well above the Australian average in Years 3 and 5. This was a 25 point improvement from 2019 in Year 3 and slight decline in 11 points in Year 5.

Green Point Christian College: Results above and well above average when compared to Australian students. Results improved from 2019 in Years 3 and 5 with a slight decrease in Years 7 and 9.

St Philip’s Christian College, Narara: Above average in a majority of subjects when compared to the Australian average. Results were similar to those in 2019.