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Naplan results: lack of progress in primaries is 'wake up call' says chief scientist Naplan results: stalled numeracy scores are a 'wake-up call', says chief scientist
(35 minutes later)
The stagnating literacy and numeracy skills of Australian primary school students should serve as a “wake up call for the nation”, the chief scientist has warned. The stagnating literacy and numeracy skills of Australian primary school students should serve as a “wake-up call for the nation”, the chief scientist has warned.
Naplan results released on Wednesday show student achievement has stalled nationally since 2008 when the tests were introduced, although there were some “significant gains” in Queensland and Western Australia.Naplan results released on Wednesday show student achievement has stalled nationally since 2008 when the tests were introduced, although there were some “significant gains” in Queensland and Western Australia.
The chief scientist, Professor Ian Chubb, says the broad direction of maths results, both in national testing and on international scales, was not good for Australia.“Given that maths is so central to so much of what we do and so much of what we will need to do then there’s a wake-up call for us,” he told ABC radio.“And we’ve got to do something about it soon.” The chief scientist, Professor Ian Chubb, said the broad direction of maths results, both in national testing and on international scales, was not good for Australia.“Given that maths is so central to so much of what we do and so much of what we will need to do then there’s a wake-up call for us,” he told ABC radio.“And we’ve got to do something about it soon.”
The results showed there was no improvement in numeracy, spelling or grammar/punctuation in the past 12 months in any year group, while the writing skills of years 7 and 9 had seen a statistically significant decrease from 2011.The results showed there was no improvement in numeracy, spelling or grammar/punctuation in the past 12 months in any year group, while the writing skills of years 7 and 9 had seen a statistically significant decrease from 2011.
In reading, there had been no improvement in years 5, 7 and 9 since 2008. Reading at year 3 had seen a “statistically significant increase from 2008” – a continuation of the long-term trend.In reading, there had been no improvement in years 5, 7 and 9 since 2008. Reading at year 3 had seen a “statistically significant increase from 2008” – a continuation of the long-term trend.
In year 5, numeracy and spelling there had been a statistically significant increase from 2008, the figures showed.In year 5, numeracy and spelling there had been a statistically significant increase from 2008, the figures showed.
The head of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, Robert Randall, said the lack of improvement was “a cause for reflection”.The head of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, Robert Randall, said the lack of improvement was “a cause for reflection”.
“Improvement in Naplan results comes about when student learning improves,” he said. “Literacy and numeracy are the foundations of learning at and beyond school. If student knowledge, skills and understanding are not improving in these areas, it is a cause for reflection.“Improvement in Naplan results comes about when student learning improves,” he said. “Literacy and numeracy are the foundations of learning at and beyond school. If student knowledge, skills and understanding are not improving in these areas, it is a cause for reflection.
“The release of the 2015 Naplan results provides another opportunity for all those involved in education to analyse the results and to celebrate success. But more importantly, it is an opportunity to reflect on how gains achieved by some can be experienced by many more students in many more places.“The release of the 2015 Naplan results provides another opportunity for all those involved in education to analyse the results and to celebrate success. But more importantly, it is an opportunity to reflect on how gains achieved by some can be experienced by many more students in many more places.
“While the ACT, NSW and Victoria continue to achieve high results, the 2015 results show that Queensland and Western Australia have made significant gains in several domains, and their efforts should be applauded. The fact that these gains span year and domain levels is particularly encouraging.”“While the ACT, NSW and Victoria continue to achieve high results, the 2015 results show that Queensland and Western Australia have made significant gains in several domains, and their efforts should be applauded. The fact that these gains span year and domain levels is particularly encouraging.”
In Queensland the results have improved in 16 of the 20 tests but children in the state are still lagging behind the national average in every year level.In Queensland the results have improved in 16 of the 20 tests but children in the state are still lagging behind the national average in every year level.
The Queensland education minister, Kate Jones, said the state was at the bottom of the heap when Naplan testing began eight years ago but additional funding, the introduction of the prep year and moving year 7 into high school had helped boost performance.The Queensland education minister, Kate Jones, said the state was at the bottom of the heap when Naplan testing began eight years ago but additional funding, the introduction of the prep year and moving year 7 into high school had helped boost performance.
“What we’re seeing now is real results when it comes to education outcomes for our children,” she told ABC radio.“What we’re seeing now is real results when it comes to education outcomes for our children,” she told ABC radio.
On average, more than 92.5% of students met the national minimum standard across year levels and five domains – reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy.On average, more than 92.5% of students met the national minimum standard across year levels and five domains – reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy.
Individual student reports will be released to schools for distribution to parents by state or territory test administration authorities during August 2015. This is more than a month earlier than in previous years.Individual student reports will be released to schools for distribution to parents by state or territory test administration authorities during August 2015. This is more than a month earlier than in previous years.
Federal education minister Christopher Pyne said for results to lift the focus needed to turn to the coalition’s four pillars of education: curriculum, teacher quality, parental engagement and school autonomy.“It’s not about money, it’s actually about the basics of school education,” he told ABC radio on Wednesday. The federal education minister, Christopher Pyne, said for results to lift the focus needed to turn to the Coalition’s four pillars of education: curriculum, teacher quality, parental engagement and school autonomy.“It’s not about money, it’s actually about the basics of school education,” he told ABC radio on Wednesday.