Prioritise happiness over homework, NAPLAN results show

Schools should stop “teaching for test scores” and care more about the “head and the heart of their students,” researchers say.

Happier kids score two points higher on their NAPLAN maths scores. Picture: Adam Head

Happiness rather than homework leads to better NAPLAN results, a new study has found.

Schools should stop “teaching for test scores” and care more about the “head and the heart of their students,” researchers say.

Analysis of the wellbeing and academic performance of 3400 year seven to nine students shows happier kids score two points higher on their NAPLAN maths scores. Students who report that they are not depressed also post reading scores that are 2.5 points higher and maths scores that are three points higher.

The effect was measurable seven to eight months later, the analysis by the Australian National University and the Gradient Institute has found. The researchers, led by Dr Diana Cardenas, controlled for other key family and school variables.

Unlike many other studies, they also relied on students’ self-reports of wellbeing, capturing those who lack a professional diagnosis.

Twins Serena and Chiara, 12, completed NAPLAN last year. Picture: Jason Edwards

Kids from St Bishoy College in Mt Druitt have put themselves in the top 50 most improved schools in NAPLAN tests in 2021. Picture: David Swift

“For every standard deviation increase in subjective wellbeing, we are likely to observe an increase of two points in Numeracy NAPLAN score. This is important given that NAPLAN results tend to vary one to five points from one year to another,” Dr Cardenas said.

“Therefore, a variation of two points in NAPLAN scores represents an important amount of yearly variation.”

Dr Cardenas said the link may be “because depression is associated with reduced approach-based goal pursuit motivation, working memory capacity and distraction inhibition”.

“These reduced motivation and cognitive abilities hinder academic achievement.

“Thus, investing in youth wellbeing “brings benefits today, for decades to come, and for the next generation,” she said.

The results of the NAPLAN test taken in May 2021 between the two long lockdowns, shows Victorian students in years three, five and seven are the best readers in the nation.

By year nine, Victorian students are beaten by those from ACT, NSW and WA in every learning domain.

Balwyn Primary School Year 3 students Brinthen, Delilah and Veer. Picture: David Caird

Balwyn Primary School year 5 students Jeongbae and Annabel. Picture: David Caird

Of particular concern are year nine boys, with only 79 per cent meeting or exceeding standards in writing compared to 90 per cent of girls.

The lockdown has been associated with elevated depression, anxiety and self-harm in students.

There have been calls from doctors such as Professor Harriet Hiscock from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute to include questions about mental health on NAPLAN tests.

Pascoe Vale mother-of-two Grace Scodella said it was important her twin girls Serena and Chiara, 12, worked hard to achieve high marks at Strathmore Secondary College as they began Year 8, but not at the expense of their happiness.

“The health and wellbeing of our daughters is always our number one priority, but we also want them to be able to learn to cope and deal with pressure,” Ms Scodella said.

“We want them to understand that putting in 100% in all that they do will leave them knowing that they tried their hardest and just how much they can achieve when they set their minds to a goal.

“But I think if our girls are feeling happier prior to tests, then they would feel more relaxed and more confident in what they need to do,” she said.