At Holy Cross our Year 3 and 5 students are now busily preparing for 2025 Online NAPLAN Testing, fast approaching. Students will test next week, March 12^th - 14^th.

NAPLAN is a nationwide measure through which parents, teachers, schools, education authorities, governments and the broader community can determine how well young Australians are developing the literacy and numeracy skills that provide the critical foundation for other learning, and for their productive and rewarding participation in the community.

NAPLAN tests are one aspect of each school’s assessment and reporting process. NAPLAN does not replace the extensive, ongoing assessments made by teachers about each student’s performance. A child’s teacher will have the best insight into the child’s educational progress. NAPLAN results do not measure overall school quality.

NAPLAN questions are directly linked to the Australian Curriculum: English and Mathematics. As such, the best preparation students can do for NAPLAN is to learn what they do in the classroom every day. On its own, NAPLAN is not a test that can be studied for, and students are not expected to do so. The assessments allow parents to see how their child is progressing against national standards in literacy and numeracy, and over time. Along with other school assessment reports, NAPLAN supports parents in discussing their child’s strengths and areas for improvement with teachers.

NAPLAN results can assist teachers by providing additional information to support their professional judgement about students’ levels of literacy and numeracy attainment and progress.

NAPLAN can support school improvement by enabling teachers to monitor their students’ progress over time against the national measure, to identify strengths and areas to improve in teaching programs, and to set goals in literacy and numeracy. Here at Holy Cross this is a big part of what we do not only with NAPLAN results but with all standardised tests students complete. Our School Annual Improvement Plan (SAIP) for Teaching and Learning is heavily guided by these results.

Students and parents wishing to familiarise themselves with NAPLAN can visit the public demonstration site on the NAP website. https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/public-demonstration-site

A new proficiency standard with 4 levels of achievement has replaced the previous 10-band structure and the old national minimum standard set in 2008. This will be included on all NAPLAN reporting including the National Report, the My School website, the reports received by schools and the Individual Student Reports (ISRs) received by parents and carers.

The changes make better use of the online adaptive tests to deliver better information for parents, carers and teachers.

The standard represents a challenging but reasonable expectation of student achievement at the time of testing. If a student is “Strong” or "Exceeding", it means they have demonstrated that their literacy or numeracy skills are where they should be at this stage of their schooling.

NAPLAN INDIVIDUAL STUDENT REPORTS

The standard replaced the numerical NAPLAN bands and the national minimum standard with the following 4 levels of achievement:

• Exceeding
• Strong
• Developing
• Needs additional support

The reports continue to show the national average and the range of achievement for the middle 60 per cent of students in their year level, allowing comparison of a child’s achievement against these measures. Detailed information on the knowledge and skills being measured in each NAPLAN assessment is available on the NAP website.

Below is a timetable of the testing that will take place.

During test week, catch-up tests are available for individual students who are absent on test days.

Testing can be a stressful time for students. Whilst we want students to achieve their best, we encourage students to simply try their best with testing and not to feel anxious around results. If you are concerned about your child’s ‘stress’ or have any other questions about NAPLAN Testing I encourage you to speak with your child’s teachers so we can work together to support them.

Exemptions may be granted to students with significant intellectual disabilities and to students who have been learning English for less than one year. If your child is eligible for support due to disability or an exemption, you should discuss this with his/her teacher prior to the tests. Parental consent is required before any support due to disability or exemption is granted.

Students may be withdrawn from NAPLAN by their parent or carer. This is a matter for consideration by parents and carers in consultation with the principal. If, after consultation, you decide to withdraw your child, you must sign a Student Withdrawal form. These forms are available at the school. These forms are required to be completed as a matter of urgency should you be considering.

Below are a few helpful tips.

Teachers will help students become familiar with testing by:

• 
  Ensuring ‘Test Literacy’ with all students so they are familiar with testing and different test formats
• Teach clear and simple procedure (timing, seating, equipment etc)
• Providing some opportunities to practise and revise content
• Let students know how they will be marked and help to them to become familiar with marking rubrics
• Simply encourage students to try their best.

What teachers will not be doing:

• Extensive test and or teaching to tests
• Spending a disproportionate amount of time on NAPLAN areas, thus neglecting the day to day curriculum

At Home:

• Encourage your child to simply try their best
• Don’t set extensive NAPLAN homework or over purchase commercialised books
• The best preparation for NAPLAN Tests a parent can provide is ensuring their child has a good night’s sleep of between 10-11 hours and a healthy breakfast on the morning of the testing

For further information you may wish to view the following links:

So, wish your child good luck and remember all we ask they do, is try their very best on the day.

With may blessings,

Mr Brad Henry
Assistant Principal - Teaching and Learning