Thomas Hassall Anglican College teachers on school’s NAPLAN success

Educators at one of Liverpool’s top performing schools say consistent encouragement from parents is key to helping students grow as learners. The advice comes as students prepare to sit NAPLAN tests next week.

Thomas Hassall Anglican College students Stephanie Lopes, Even Boyle and Rochelle Gunawan with teachers David Butler and Millie Pettett. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu

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Educators at one of Liverpool’s top performing schools say consistent encouragement from parents is key to helping students grow as learners.

Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will sit their NAPLAN tests next week, with paper assessments completed from May 14-16 and online tests taking place between May 14 and May 24.

NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students are already learning through the school curriculum.

Thomas Hassall Anglican College’s Deputy Head of Senior School (Operations), David Butler, said the school used the recommended practice tests to help students become familiar with the system.

Thomas Hassall Anglican College educator David Butler and student Evan Boyle. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu

“Most importantly, anything that we do is alongside our normal curriculum. We’re not focused on (NAPLAN), we’re not teaching to the test or anything like that. We’re only doing small things that might be useful,” he said.

The college, which is based in Middleton Grange, ranked in the top 10 schools in the Liverpool LGA for NAPLAN results at primary and high school levels.

Teachers at the school said its success was the result of a combination of factors, including a strong learning support team, the aspirations of its students and encouragement from parents.

“We have aspirational students and we have parents who support that aspiration in their kids,” Mr Butler said.

“So they really care about it, they talk about it in their homes and so it probably doesn’t come as a great surprise that the kids value the task and they’ll be trying their best.”

Teachers David Butler and Millie Pettett say parental encouragement is key to supporting children’s education. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu

Director of Learning Innovation Millie Pettett said it was important to remember NAPLAN was a diagnostic test and served as a “snapshot” of the student at a particular point in time.

“It shows how your child is learning, but more important is to look at how your child has grown.

“When we overemphasise the importance of the test in society we make it a high-stakes test and we increase anxiety around it, when actually it’s a snapshot and it’s in line with our teaching.

“So if we’re doing our job, then they’re going to be able to take NAPLAN and they’re going to be able to show us what they know because it’s intentionally embedded in all of our teaching.”

Teacher Jenny Squire with students who will sit NAPLAN next week. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu

Deputy Head of Junior School (People and Practice) Jenny Squire said parents played a key role in helping their children develop literacy and numeracy foundations at a young age.

She said parents can support their children’s education by being aware of their learning, communicating with teachers about their progress, encouraging reading and mathematics, and sitting with their children during homework time.