Teaching & Learning

Understanding Your Child's NAPLAN Report 

As NAPLAN results are released, many parents will be interested to see how their child has performed. While the report provides useful information about aspects of literacy and numeracy achievement, it is important to remember that NAPLAN captures performance at a single point in time and should not be viewed as a complete picture of a student's learning. 

At the College, NAPLAN is one of several assessment measures we use to understand student progress. We triangulate NAPLAN data with other standardised assessments, classroom observations, school-based assessment tasks, and teacher professional judgement. Together, these sources provide a much richer and more accurate understanding of each student's strengths, challenges and growth over time. 

Parents may notice that NAPLAN results do not always align perfectly with report grades or classroom performance. This is normal. Different assessments measure different skills and serve different purposes. What matters most is the pattern of learning and growth across multiple measures rather than the result of a single test. 

Interestingly, recent research highlighted by AHISA CEO Dr Chris Duncan suggests that the way students experience assessment feedback can significantly influence future learning. The study found that students who received feedback focused on "what to do next" responded more positively and demonstrated improved performance compared with students who simply received notice that an answer was incorrect. The research reinforces what Trinity teachers have long understood: assessment should be a tool for learning, not merely a measure of performance. 

We encourage families to view NAPLAN results as an opportunity for conversation, reflection and goal setting. A NAPLAN score does not define a child's potential. Rather, it is one piece of information that helps schools, students and families work together to support continued growth and learning. 

Nash Clark 

Director of Teaching and Learning