Qld’s NAPLAN fail: Year 3, 5 kids fall behind in nearly every metric

Queensland's NAPLAN results have hit their lowest levels in recent years, with Year 3 students now ranking second-worst nationally in numeracy despite record participation.

• Editor’s view: Minister’s welcome backflip
• Opinion: It doesn’t have to be this way

NAPLAN results in Queensland have flatlined, with year 3 and 5 students falling behind in almost every metric and overall scores dropping to the lowest they’ve been in recent years despite having the highest participation rates since 2019.

New data revealed from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority showed Queensland’s year 3 cohort ranked the second worst in the country for numeracy behind Northern Territory.

The figures showed the average NAPLAN score for numeracy in year 3 was 393.1 and 11.8 per cent needed additional support – the highest score for NAPLAN is 1000.

This means Queensland had the second highest number of year three students who struggled with things like determining halves and quarters, to continue increasing and decreasing number patterns, and to add and subtract one and two-digit numbers.

Year 3’s also had the second highest number of students who need additional support in writing at 9 per cent, sitting only behind the Northern Territory.

This meant they had difficulty using correct punctuation, sentence formation, spelling of simple words and using simple language.

Meanwhile, participation rates were the highest they have been since 2019 – with 1800 more taking part in the exam compared to last year – despite major events like ex-tropical cyclone Alfred.

The results come after Education Minister John Paul-Langbroek said “I don’t make any guarantees” when asked by The Courier-Mail in February if NAPLAN results would improve by 2028.

But exclusively speaking to The Courier-Mail on Tuesday, Mr Langbroek said he remained committed to lifting NAPLAN results, which would take time after the education system had been under-resourced for too long under the former Government.

“I’m absolutely determined to see Queensland schoolchildren achieve their best possible results,” he said.

“The Crisafulli Government is delivering a fresh start for education, which includes more students participating in NAPLAN, as well as more teachers and safer classrooms,” Minister Langbroek said.

Mr Langbroek said the former Labor Government’s failure to support NAPLAN left more children failing to meet national standards in English and maths.

“Our Government unashamedly backs NAPLAN to drive more information for schools and parents and drive-up education outcomes.

“Increased participation is a positive step forward, but we want to continue this momentum to ensure results are lifting along with participation.

ACARA chief executive officer Stephen Gniel said this year in particular, Queensland’s participation results were a testament to the efforts of its education community.

“When you consider this, the fact that Queensland achieved its highest participation rate across all year levels since 2019 at 89.7 per cent is an impressive achievement.

“This also demonstrates the adaptability of the NAPLAN program schedule to support schools impacted by circumstances beyond their control to take part in this important national assessment.”

ACU’s Institute for Learning Sciences and Teacher Education Associate Professor Steven Lewis said there were cheaper and more effective ways of measuring student performance than the NAPLAN tests.

“I guess the question needs to be asked is doing it in a census test where every student participates, and every student’s results can be identifiable and attributable to them. Does that give you better system level data than doing a smaller, less invasive sample approach to testing?”

Prof Lewis said the results this year were “not surprising.”

“I think until we make a wholesale change to how we value and support education and schooling, we’re not going to see wholesale change to the NAPLAN performance.”

“I think what the NAPLAN test has been telling us for years and years and years now is that the same sorts of students generally are performing very well, and the same sorts of students generally are performing less than ideally.”

Students across Queensland sat for the NAPLAN tests.

Queensland Teachers Union President Cresta Richardson said despite severe funding shortfalls and curriculum inconsistency across the country, politicians had “persisted with NAPLAN as some sort of benchmark for education standards and results.”

“It is not,” she said.

Ms Richardson said the QTU was fighting for nation-leading salaries and conditions for our nearly 50-thousand members, this is extremely important to address the serious issues affecting our public schools and ensure quality free education continues.

“Queensland currently has a severe teacher shortage, in simple terms not enough qualified people to cover the necessary workload. NAPLAN is an out-of-date extra burden that delivers no benefit to students or teachers and school leaders.

Originally published as Qld’s NAPLAN fail: Year 3, 5 kids fall behind in nearly every metric