Earlier this week, all Victorian Government Schools received results from the suite of NAPLAN tests conducted with all students across Australia in Grades 3 and 5. Whilst the results from the NAPLAN tests are only one of many ways we assess for student understanding, they are a useful ‘big picture’ data set for us to:

Measure our year-on-year progress.
Compare our results to ‘similar schools’, schools in our local network and all schools across our state.
Identify patterns and trends to both celebrate and to target future intervention and improvement.

We again received outstanding results from both our Year 3 and Year 5 cohorts of students and I would firstly like to congratulate each and every individual student for the efforts in these tests. Completing five tests across the testing period is challenging and requires perseverance, courage and stamina. More than any of our results, I am proud that our students continue to ‘do their best’ at all times.

Similarly, I would like to thank our teaching and education support teams. Their expertise, craft and dedication support our students to perform at their best and continue to grow into blossoming learners and outstanding young people.

Highlights of our data sets include:

More students in the Top 2 bands (working above the expected level) than 2021 in:
- Year 3 Reading,
- Year 3 Writing (5-year high),
- Year 3 Spelling (5-year high),
- Year 3 Numeracy
- Year 3 Grammar and Punctuation
- Year 5 Reading (5-year high).
More students (as a percentage) in the Top 2 bands (working above the expected level) in Reading, Writing, Spelling, Numeracy and Grammar and Punctuation in both Year 3 and Year 5 than the state average.
A participation rate in all tests of at or above 97%.

The work of our teachers and education support staff across the past couple of years, despite the obvious challenges that all schools have faced, is significant. Reflecting on our results from 2019, we are performing higher in:

Year 3 Reading, Writing, Spelling, Numeracy, Grammar and Punctuation.
Year 5 Reading, Writing, Spelling, Numeracy, Grammar and Punctuation.

Significantly, we have more students performing at an above-expected level in all learning areas assessed by NAPLAN from where we were in 2019, to where we are now.

What is contributing to our success? Whilst it can be hard to pinpoint any one factor, below are a range of strategies we are utilising to improve classroom practice (and thus student performance):

Consistent teaching models in reading, writing and mathematics.
The implementation of the ‘SMART Spelling’ approach.
Structured approach to home learning, including daily reading and spelling, as well as weekly numeracy ‘skill and drill’ tasks.
Highly-effective professional learning teams, supported by tiers of expert leadership teams.
Highly-effective teacher professional development.
Instructional coaching led by the Principal Class team, Senior Leaders, Program Leaders, Team Leaders and expert staff.
Evidence-based and data-informed learning intervention program.
Consistent approach to managing student wellbeing, leading to an orderly and compliant learning environment.
School community invested in the school; supportive of school learning and school programs.
High-quality and professional physical learning environment.

This has been an outstanding outcome to conclude the term on. We look forward to an enjoyable final week of term together (with a 2:30pm finish next Friday 16th September), before we enter a busy Term 4 from Monday 3rd October.

Thanks for your ongoing support and keep doing your best.

Rohan.

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