The northern suburbs most improved NAPLAN schools of past five years revealed
A small Thomastown school’s unique teaching methods for its diverse student population have helped it become the most improved NAPLAN school in the north. How did your school fare? See the full list.
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A small school that developed its own teaching methods for its diverse student population has turned around its NAPLAN results to have the most improved scores in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
A News Corp Australia analysis of national assessment scores found the Thomastown East Primary School’s average Year 5 results across all subjects improved by 13.9 per cent from 2014 to 2018.
Almost 80 per cent of the pupils come from non-English speaking backgrounds.
Principal Jeremy Blaney said the school diverted non-essential tasks from teacher workloads, created a positive environment for learning and focused on the “non-negotiable” topics of reading, writing and maths.
“Since the staff initiatives were implemented four years ago, they have helped students to
produce work far superior to anything they had done before,” he said.
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Despite the success, Mr Blaney said the national testing was just a snapshot of where the students were on a particular day.
“It doesn’t take into account the personal qualities children display, their values, the compassion they display or how they enrich the lives of others,” he said.
“A snapshot test will never be as accurate as teachers who work with students every day and
collect data from a variety of sources.”
Mr Blaney said parents should note that NAPLAN data only told a portion of a school’s story, and did not measure a school’s culture or the hard work to build positive relationships between staff and students.
The News Corp Australia analysis compared each school’s combined results for each NAPLAN subject in 2014 with the 2018 results.
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The 2019 results are not publicly available yet.
When it came to Year 9 results, Al Siraat College, in Epping, was most improved in Melbourne’s north with an increase of 7.2 per cent.
A Federal Department of Education spokesperson said NAPLAN provided insight for schools and teachers about how well education programs were working, and where there was need for improvement.
“NAPLAN shows parents how their children are progressing against national standards and provides a basis for discussion with their child’s teachers,” the spokesperson said.
“It also provides students with an opportunity to see what they have learned and how they are progressing over time.”
NORTHERN MELBOURNE’S YEAR 5 NAPLAN IMPROVERS FROM 2014 TO 2018
1. Thomastown East Primary School – 13.9 per cent
2. Glenroy Central Primary School – 13.0 per cent
3. Sacred Heart School, Fitzroy – 12.3 per cent
4. Debney Meadows Primary School, Flemington – 10.8 per cent
5. Northside Christian College, Bundoora – 10.3 per cent
6. Moomba Park Primary School, Fawkner – 9.4 per cent
7. St Brigid’s School, Gisborne – 8.7 per cent
8. St Pius X School, Heidelberg – 8.6 per cent
9. Holy Child School, Dallas – 8.0 per cent
10. St Joseph’s School, Mernda – 7.8 per cent
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RICHEST SCHOOLS IN MELBOURNE’S NORTH REVEALED
HOW MUCH GOVERNMENT DOES YOUR NORTHERN SCHOOL GET
NORTHERN MELBOURNE’S YEAR 9 NAPLAN IMPROVERS FROM 2014 TO 2018
1. Al Siraat College, Epping – 7.2 per cent
2. Collingwood College – 5.5 per cent
3. East Preston Islamic College – 3.9 per cent
4. Thomastown Secondary College – 3.8 per cent
5. Hume Anglican Grammar, Mickleham – 3.4 per cent
6. John Fawkner Secondary College, Fawkner – 3.2 per cent
7. Lalor North Secondary College – 2.7 per cent
8. Epping Secondary College – 2.4 per cent
9. Antonine College, Pascoe Vale – 2.2 per cent
10. Catholic Ladies’ College, Eltham – 2.1 per cent