New NAPLAN data reveals the NT schools with impressive student gains
Ahead of the full release of Northern Territory NAPLAN results, 10 schools have been highlighted for their growth and overachievement. See which schools made the list.
New NAPLAN data released on Wednesday has revealed students’ growth in literacy and numeracy post-Covid for the first time.
NAPLAN is an annual literacy and numeracy test for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9, with the latest data drop showing individual 2025 scores for schools across the Northern Territory.
Ahead of the full release of specific school data, the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) identified 10 Territory schools “making a difference”, including schools from Darwin down to Alice Springs.
ACARA put the spotlight on these overachieving schools for recording the highest proportion of students making above average progress across reading, writing and numeracy since they last sat the test in 2023.
Larrakeyah Primary School in Darwin is one of those overachievers.
SEE THE FULL RANKED LIST OF NORTHERN TERRITORY SCHOOLS ONLINE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
The city school saw average NAPLAN scores increase by nearly four points on 2024.
The Year 5 cohort also achieved impressive growth since they last sat the test in 2023.
Larrakeyah principal Fathma Mauger said the results were particularly impressive given nearly 20 per cent of students were part of the transient military families who worked at the Larrakeyah Barracks literally next door.
She credits the achievement to fantastic staff and a whole school approach to literacy and numeracy.
“We have a common and consistent approach to how we teach literacy and numeracy across the school,” Ms Mauger said.
“It’s not choose your own adventure.
“There is a very clear, explicit teaching pedagogy of how teachers are expected to teach.”
Ms Mauger said teachers also used data to inform their teaching and interventions for students.
“Our teachers look at data on a weekly basis,” she said.
“Student data informs our teaching.”
“So we know students strengths and weaknesses, so teachers can adjust their teaching accordingly.”
The veteran principal said the key to their success was a grounded wellbeing program for students.
“The other thing we’re strong at in this school is we understand the connection between student wellbeing and academic success,” Ms Mauger said.
“We have strong wellbeing programs, so kids want to come to school and they want to learn.
“Because I really believe that developing happy, confident, resilient kids combined with high quality, data informed teaching is the key to academic success.”
On Wednesday afternoon this masthead will reveal the Northern Territory’s top performing NAPLAN schools online.
Full list: Top NT NAPLAN school performers revealed
