NAPLAN 2019 Gold Coast: Public vs private — who is best on the Gold Coast?

Gold Coast private schools again dominated the top spots in this year’s NAPLAN results — but the results have revealed something surprising about the public schools.

GOLD Coast private schools again dominated the top spots in this year’s NAPLAN results, but it is the public schools who have been the big improvers.

The Gold Coast Bulletin on Wednesday released the results from the May exams which tested year 3,5,7 and 9 students on their numeracy and literacy knowledge.

The data revealed the two most improved primary schools were Cedar Creek State School and Burleigh Heads State School. They were followed by Somerset College, St Bernard State School and Livingstone Christian College.

The city’s most improved high schools, Upper Coomera State College and Coombabah State High School, are also Government funded.

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Those in the public sector say while a school’s NAPLAN results are a helpful tool, it is the child’s individual results that matter.

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“I’m an incredible advocate of public school education and hold a deep respect for educators also in the independent and private sectors,” Bellevue Park principal Rachel Cutajar said.

“Parents are far more acutely aware of their individual child’s needs and expertise and as such choose schools to fit their student and family.

“It’s not uncommon for families to have students of a similar age engage in two separate schools, sometimes private and sometimes public.”

NAPLAN RESULTS 2019: MOST IMPROVED GOLD COAST SCHOOLS

Bellevue Park State School students with principal Rachel Cutajar.

Ms Cutajar, previously director of senior school at Southport State High School, said the personal improvements were something worth celebrating.

“It’s a genuinely beautiful moment to see a student realise they can achieve great results despite not believing they could. I’ve seen students weep at knowing for the first time they were at national minimum standard for reading and declare, ‘I didn’t think I was a good reader’. That’s a powerful shift in a student’s life.”

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Cedar Creek State School saw the Gold Coast’s highest NAPLAN score improvement.

Cedar Creek State School principal Jane Tuckett said her school’s performance was a community effort.

“We focus on teaching and personalising the curriculum to students needs,” Ms Tuckett said.

“As a public school we have benefited from seeing a range of students and it doesn’t matter which student comes here, we look at what is best for them and modify the curriculum to their needs.

“We are not enrolment managed so we do see parents who chose to send their children here.

“One of the biggest things we do encourage is for students to take ownership for their own improvement.”