Leader of Pedagogy

NAPLAN 2026 

As we move further into Term 1, a key focus for our Year 7 and Year 9 students will be the NAPLAN testing. For our community, NAPLAN provides an important snapshot of student learning in literacy and numeracy, and when used alongside classroom assessments, and teacher judgement, it can help us to better understand how our students are progressing over time. 

At O’Connor Catholic College, our approach to NAPLAN is grounded in our commitment to Empowering Every Learner . Preparation for NAPLAN does not require excessive revision or test practice, but students are supported through high-quality, everyday teaching that aims to build strong reading comprehension, writing skills, numeracy understanding, and problem-solving skills across all subject areas. Whilst these skills are important in the NAPLAN testing process, they also matter for lifelong learning. 

NAPLAN testing will be held between Wednesday 11th March - Monday 23rd March 2026 (weeks 7-9). More information related to NAPLAN including information for parents and carers has been sent home, and is available via Compass. If you do have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the College, or access the following website where more information for parents and carers can be found National Assessment Program. 

‘WIN’ Stage 5 Project - Review Phase Update 

As we move into the second half of the term, we are starting our review phase of the ‘WIN’ (What I Need) Stage 5 Project and taking time to reflect on the impact of the initiative on student learning and engagement. The review phase is a critical element of the improvement cycle, allowing staff to evaluate what has worked well, identify areas for refinement, and ensure that the project continues to meet the learning needs of our students. 

Throughout the implementation of the project so far, teachers have used a range of internal and external data sources to place students into targeted learning groups and adjust instruction resaponsively. During this review phase, teachers in all subject areas are continuing to analyse student progress data, work samples, and teacher observations to determine the effectiveness of the strategies used and the extent to which students are progressing towards their identified learning goals. The findings from this review phase will directly inform the next cycle of planning for the project, including potential refinements to class groupings, focus areas, literacy strategies and teaching strategies. This ongoing reflective cycle demonstrates the College’s commitment to continuous improvement and to Empowering Every Learner through targeted, high-impact teaching.

As we continue this term, both our approach to NAPLAN and the review of the ‘WIN’ Stage 5 Project reflect our commitment to thoughtful, evidence-informed teaching. By using data to understand student progress, refining our practice through reflection, and maintaining a strong focus on high-quality everyday learning, we ensure that students are supported to grow with confidence and purpose in their learning. This balanced approach reinforces that every learner is known, supported and challenged as we work together, Empowering Every Learner at O’Connor Catholic College.

Ms. Natalie Mellowship

Leader of Pedagogy