Middle School
(Years 7, 8 and 9)

NAPLAN Testing | Ignite Program | Meet the Team!

NAPLAN Testing Year 7s & Year 9s

The upcoming National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) assessments will be undertaken by all Year 7 and Year 9 students this year.

What is NAPLAN?

NAPLAN is Australia’s annual assessment of literacy and numeracy skills for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. The assessments provide a snapshot of your child’s achievement in reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy, and help the school and families understand how students are progressing against national standards. NAPLAN is one part of our overall school assessment program and does not replace ongoing teacher assessments.

2026 NAPLAN Testing Window

For 2026, the NAPLAN test window runs from Wednesday 11 March to Monday 23 March. Within this period, students will complete tests on designated days. To ensure all students have the opportunity to complete every assessment, catch-up days will be available for students who are absent on a scheduled day.

NAPLAN Testing Days for Years 7 & 9

Wednesday 11 March to Monday 16 March: Main testing days (writing, reading, language conventions and numeracy).
Tuesday 17 March to Thursday 19 March: Catch-up days for students who may have missed one or more tests during the main testing period.

Supporting Your Child

NAPLAN assesses skills from the Australian Curriculum, so experience in everyday classroom learning is the best preparation. You can support your child by:

Reassuring them that NAPLAN is just one of many assessment tools and not something to be anxious about.
Ensuring they get a good night’s sleep and arrive at school on time on test days.
Encouraging them to simply do their best — there is no pass or fail outcome.

Information about formal exemptions may be discussed with the college, if you feel this is appropriate for your child’s circumstances, please Contact Emma Holmes - HLE@cheltsec.viv.edu.au

Further Information

More detailed information for parents and carers from the VCAA, including brochures in a range of languages, is available at:https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/assessment/foundation-10/naplan/information-parents-and-carers

We will keep you informed about the specific daily NAPLAN schedule for Years 7 and 9 as soon as it is finalised. If you have any questions, please contact Emma Holmes via email HLE@cheltsec.viv.edu.au or 9555 5955.

2026 NAPLAN Information Brochure.pdf

Year 9 Ignite Program

One of the wonderful aspects of Cheltenham Secondary College is the range of real-world learning opportunities available to our students.

As part of the Year 9 Ignite Program, students are participating in a series of externally facilitated sessions designed to build practical skills and confidence for the future. Over the coming weeks, Year 9 students will engage in:

First Aid Training;
Food Safety Certification;
Barista Course;
FutureFlex Careers Program.

The FutureFlex program includes several key components designed to help students think about their future pathways:

The Morrisby Questionnaire is designed to help students explore interests and strengths.
CV and cover letter writing workshops to prepare students for the workforce.
A session delivered by Kingston Youth Services focusing on budgeting and interview skills.

Programs such as Ignite provide students with valuable life skills, exposure to potential career pathways and the opportunity to build confidence in real-world settings.