Western Sydney schools top the 2019 NAPLAN results
Targeted plans designed to lift students’ numeracy and literacy skills have helped dozens of western and south west Sydney high schools score better NAPLAN results than similar schools nationally.
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Targeted plans designed to lift students’ numeracy and literacy skills have helped dozens of western and south west Sydney high schools score better NAPLAN results than similar schools nationally.
The Daily Telegraph looked at more than 650 schools in the western Sydney area and found 49 secondary schools achieved “above” or “significantly above” schools with a similar Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) value in at least three subject areas.
The index reveals which students have punched above their weight academically when compared to schools who face similar challenges and opportunities.
Canley Vale High Schools students in Years 7 and 9 achieved significantly above similar schools in writing, spelling and numeracy.
Penrith High School, Baulkham Hills High School, Girraween High School, Redeemer Baptist School and Montgrove College were among the top achievers in numeracy with significantly higher scores than other similar schools nationally.
Al Amanah College in Liverpool was formally recognised by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) for significant gains in numeracy.
The College’s principal Ayam Alwan said the school’s leadership team and mentors regularly met to develop plans to help students.
“Al Amanah College is committed to improving its educational standards and while there have been recent major improvements, the school always strives to do better,” he said.
“That’s why we introduced a special literacy and numeracy program at Al Amanah College as part of the school improvement plan.”
Mr Alwan said the school held parent awareness sessions and appointed two literacy and numeracy school leaders to provide extra assistance.
“It is also important to acknowledge the students that do very well in these tests, just as we recognise students that do well in other areas of the school curriculum,” he said.
“The school holds special ceremony annually to recognise, acknowledge and celebrate our NAPLAN success.”
Mr Alwan said the biggest challenges for his students was learning English as a second language and grappling with modern pressures such as technology.
Lakemba’s Holy Spirit Catholic College principal Phillip Scollard said he attributes his students’ high gains in reading to early intervention and incorporating literacy into every subject.
More than 96 per cent of students at the school have a language background other than English.
“Part of the role for every teacher no matter what they teach is we’re actually also teaching formal academic English to these students,” he said.
Originally published as Western Sydney schools top the 2019 NAPLAN results
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