NAPLAN results show Victoria’s performance flatlining but still among nation’s best

VICTORIA has failed to improve the average NAPLAN scores of high school students in the past decade.

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VICTORIA has failed to improve the average NAPLAN scores of high school students in the past decade.

But pupils in grades 3 and 5 have significantly increased their reading scores, with the younger class also lifting their grammar and punctuation results.

Preliminary data from this year’s National Assessment Program — Literacy And Numeracy tests, released today, show Victoria outperformed other states in a number of categories.

The state’s grade 3 pupils recorded the highest mean scores in grammar and punctuation, reading and numeracy. Victorian students in years 5 and 7 also topped the class in writing and numeracy.

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Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham described the NAPLAN results as a “mixed bag”, with no significant improvements on last year. “The results show that while we have excellent schools and teachers in Australia, we need to focus on what will give our students the opportunities they need to reach their potential,” Mr Birmingham said.

“Some of the longer-term trends highlight great advances in areas of reading, writing and numeracy but we need to be aiming for more consistent improvements.

“That means looking at what can be learned from our high-achieving schools and what they do that can apply in other schools.”

Western Australia and Queensland showed the most improvement in NAPLAN since 2008. NSW also showed a small improvement in its results from last year, after announcing it would introduce a minimum literacy and numeracy standard for its High School Certificate.

NAPLAN is the first opportunity for year 9 students to meet the benchmark.

Narre Warren South P-12 College year 9 students Hayley, Murtoza, Melinda, Eddie and Chelcie. Picture: Ian Currie

Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority boss Robert Randall said NSW’s new standard appeared to have engaged students.

“The notion of setting literacy and numeracy standards is a good thing,” he said.

“We should be very clear about our expectations for kids’ literacy and numeracy.

“I know (other states) are observing what NSW and WA have done and wondering whether they would do the same thing or adopt a different approach.”

Despite federal government plans for literacy and numeracy standards in year 12, Victorian Education Minister James Merlino said the state wouldn’t introduce similar benchmarks to NSW or Western Australia.

“Our record investment in schools is paying dividends, with data from sample assessments including NAPLAN consistently showing that Victorian students are ahead of the pack,” he said. “We are always looking at ways to improve student outcomes, however there are currently no plans for any new minimum standards arrangements as part of year 12.”

Parents will receive their child’s individual results between mid-August and mid-September.

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@moniquehore