NAPLAN results reveal which primary schools made biggest gains

NAPLAN data reveals the primary schools that made the biggest leaps forward. Use the search tool to see how your child’s school fared.

Doncaster Gardens Primary School celebrate their results. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Victoria’s most improved primary school students are in the state system, with some progressing faster than their privately educated peers by nearly 20 per cent.

NAPLAN results from 2021, which have just been posted to the My School website, reveal the impact of the past two years on student learning.

The students at Coldstream Primary are the state’s most impressive readers, with 97 per cent posting above-average gains in year five in 2021 compared to year three in 2019.

Other standouts include pupils from Coldstream and Cardross Primary Schools (both 91 per cent), Cobden Primary School (86), Rokewood Primary School (84) and Woodside Primary School (81).

Religious schools also progressed well in reading for this time frame, with 79 per cent of students at St Colman’s School in Mortlake progressing above average, along with those from St John Vianney’s School Parkdale (76) and Holy Rosary School Heathcote (73).

Other gains posted by religious schools in writing include Erasmus Primary (73 per cent above average), Holy Family School in Doveton (71) and Methodist Ladies’ College, St Mary’s School Myrtleford, and Our Lady of Good Counsel Deepdene (all 68).

Catholic schools, including St Patrick’s School St Arnaud, St John Vianney’s Parkdale and Holy Rosary School Heathcote also achieved well above average scores for numeracy.

In the state sector, 89 per cent of students from Gladesville Primary School in Kilsyth and Araluen Primary School in Sale progressed above average in numeracy.

Students from Westbreen Primary School in Pascoe Vale and Avoca Primary School also showed strong improvement.

Victorian Principals Association president Andrew Dalgleish said he was “extremely proud” of students for this year’s NAPLAN results.

“It acknowledges the incredibly hard work that principals, teachers and students have undertaken during the challenges of the past two years,” Mr Dalgleish said.

“We also need to acknowledge the partnership and support from parents, families and carers through the times of remote learning.”

Australian Primary Principals Association president Malcolm Elliott also applauded students for their efforts and NAPLAN results.

“In the face of all this change and uncertainty many students have done very well. This is a credit to them, their families and all the educators who have been in the frontline,” he said.

Carolyn Elliot, principal of Doncaster Gardens Primary, said focusing on students’ growth was crucial.

Students from her school performed well above their peers, with 68 per cent improving above average for numeracy, 62 per cent for writing and 63 per cent for reading.

“We’ve got well above fifty per cent of students getting high growth which is pleasing,” she said.

“We are lucky that our community sees learning as important.”

Mr Elliot said more than half of her students came from a non-English background and represented 34 different nationalities.