How three local Catholic schools earned top spots in QLD NAPLAN rankings

Toowoomba's Catholic education sector has delivered exceptional results, with three local schools breaking into Queensland's elite top 20 NAPLAN performers.

Jessica Wade and Dr Pat Coughlan

Three Toowoomba catholic schools have celebrated top 20 spots for NAPLAN results throughout Queensland.

The schools that performed well within the Toowoomba Catholic Schools diocese were St Saviour’s College, St Joseph’s College and Assumption College in Warwick.

Principle of St Saviour’s College, Jessica Wade, said it was wonderful to see the incredible efforts of their teachers and students recognised as a top 20 catholic school in Queensland.

“It’s just outstanding and it speaks to what I see day in and day out in our school,” Ms Wade said.

Ms Wade said the results from NAPLAN helped teachers understand where students needed help to succeed.

“I think it’s a wonderful data set that helps us know the strengths of our students and the places where they might need a little bit of extra assistance or support,” Ms Wade said.

Ms Wade said the extra assistance for students to bridge learning gaps could help them have full and flourishing lives beyond school.

“Anything we can do to make those students feel empowered for the worlds that they’ll live in is a really great step forward,” she said.

Executive director of Toowoomba Catholic Schools, Dr Patrick Coughlan said the NAPLAN results reassured them that the programs they offered brought out the best in their students.

“From our point of view it reassures us that what we’re doing is working and having the desired results,” Dr Coughlan said.

Dr Coughlan said they don’t put all their eggs into the NAPLAN basket but it does provide a good source of information that can help teachers know students better as learners.