Victoria tops NAPLAN marks for numeracy, reading but writing skills lag
OUR students are leading the nation in numeracy and reading, the latest NAPLAN results reveal. But a drop in writing skills in all age groups nationally is ringing alarm bells. See the results by grade.
Education
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VICTORIAN students have scored their best results for numeracy and reading in the annual NAPLAN test.
The state’s students are leading the nation according to results released today, with grade 3 and 5 pupils taking the top spot in five of 10 testing areas.
But it’s not all good news — writing skills have dropped for every year level tested across Victoria in a national trend that Education Minister James Merlino labelled “concerning”.
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“Results for writing across the country have declined,” Mr Merlino said.
“Less so in Victoria, but it’s a decline across the country.”
Victoria’s decline in writing was most evident in year 7, falling more than 10 points in a year.
More research will be conducted to determine why Australian students’ writing skills have dropped.
Meanwhile, mean scores for reading in grades 3, 5 and year 9 were the highest recorded since NAPLAN began a decade ago.
So too were grade 5 and year 9 numeracy.
Students in the bottom bands also lifted their scores while top achievers continued to gain steady increases.
Just 20 per cent of grade 3 students scored in the bottom three bands this year compared to 24 per cent in 2015, while grade 5 students in the bottom three bands for reading reduced from 38 per cent in 2015 to 30 per cent.
Students from disadvantaged backgrounds often feature in that category.
Programs hailed for the improvements included literacy coaches and specialist turnaround teams of teachers in underperforming schools.
Glen Eira College principal Sheereen Kindler anticipated improved results in writing among her students, despite the national decline.
Her school introduced a literacy methodology to help students reflect on their work, called “The Seven Traits of Writing”, and employed a literacy coach with government funding.
“I think teachers are working really hard on reading, writing and in numeracy,” Mrs Kindler said.
Mr Merlino thanked the principals, teachers and support staff “who work hard each and every day to give our kids every opportunity to a great education”.
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