Benchmark results

NAPLAN

Each year, all Australian students participated in annual testing of the reading, writing, spelling and numeracy skills at year 3, 5, 7 and 9.  In 2023 the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) made the following changes to the NAPLAN:

• NAPLAN will be held in Term 1 (mid-March) of the school year, instead of Term 2.
• Results will be reported against 4 proficiency levels instead of the previous numerical bands.
• The NAPLAN measurement scales and time series have been reset.

One of the major purposes of the NAPLAN assessment is to give parents and care-givers information about the progress of their children in relation to nationally agreed benchmarks. These benchmarks represent the minimum standard of literacy and numeracy skills expected of students in Australian schools at these year levels. 

The table below outlines the students attainment levels against that national benchmarks. The testing is included in the program and presented to students as merely another classroom activity, no more or less important than any other.  Stress levels are minimised and an inclusive approach values all children’s efforts regardless of learning needs. 

As Good Shepherd continues to grow in its multi-cultural make-up we relish the opportunity to support students from non-English speaking backgrounds to develop mastery of literacy and numeracy skills.

In 2023, across the two cohorts of students 11% of students were absent or withdrawn by parents during the testing period.