Queensland scores well in NAPLAN tests

Queensland students have posted some of their best results on record in this year’s National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests.

Minister for Education, Training and Employment John-Paul Langbroek said the NAPLAN Summary Report released today shows Queensland schools once again showed strong improvement, with Year 5 students recording their strongest results.

“Year 5 students have been a standout this year, recording the state’s highest NAPLAN performance to date in reading with more than 96 per cent achieving the national standard,” Mr Langbroek said.

“Our Prep pioneers are now in their sixth year of school and their results in Year 5 show they’re reaping the rewards of that extra year of schooling and the reforms of the Newman Government.

“They’ve delivered the state’s best results in reading, spelling, grammar and punctuation and numeracy, both in average scores and the proportion of students at or above the national standard.

“Of course the challenge now will be to keep this momentum going.

“Our aspiration is for Queensland to be among the top performing states in NAPLAN by the year 2020 and each year our improvements are taking us closer to achieving this goal.”

Other highlights for Queensland in the 2013 NAPLAN summary report include:

·         Queensland is the state with the greatest number of statistically significant improvements since the tests began in 2008

·         Positive results for Year 3 students with record results in three strands

·         Special recognition for significant improvements in Year 3 grammar and punctuation since 2008

·         Queensland is now ranked third across the country for Year 7 numeracy

·         Queensland is now ranked fourth across the country for Years 3 and 5 in four of the five testing areas

Mr Langbroek said NAPLAN results were always a team effort and he congratulated families, teachers, principals and school communities across Queensland.

“It’s always important to recognise the valuable contribution of those working behind-the-scenes and at home to support a child’s learning,” he said.

“Queensland schools are focussed on improving student learning across all areas of the curriculum.

“NAPLAN provides just one snapshot of how students are progressing, so it’s important for parents to consider the results alongside other information about how their children are progressing.”

Mr Langbroek said that the results are encouraging, but the Government is still aiming to lift the performance of all students.

“Schools will be analysing their results and developing new strategies to lift performance,” he said.

“To help with this, the Newman Government is investing $26 million in Getting the Basics Right – Literacy and Numeracy grants so that schools can tailor their early literacy and numeracy programs to the specific needs of students in Prep to Year 2.

“We are also providing $54 million over four years to provide a further 9,000 teacher aide hours in 600 Prep classes.

“The Newman Government is committed to providing a quality education for Queensland students and this starts with building strong foundations for literacy and numeracy in the early years.”

The national summary report of 2013 NAPLAN results was released today by the Australian Curriculum and Reporting Authority (ACARA). The report is available online at www.naplan.edu.au.

[ENDS] 16 September 2013

Media contact: Kath Ryan 0488 438 787