NAPLAN changes better support learning

16 March 2022

The Catholic education sector in Queensland has welcomed the changes to NAPLAN announced today. 

The changes have been agreed to by all state and territory Education Ministers. 

Queensland Catholic Education Commission Executive Director Dr Lee-Anne Perry said the move to bring NAPLAN forward into Term 1 from 2023 would assist teachers and families to better support students in their learning. 

“NAPLAN is one of many tools that teachers have to assess a student’s progress,” Dr Perry said.  

“By moving the test earlier into the year teachers will have earlier access to important information about students’ progress. 

“This will help them to make any changes necessary to their teaching program to best support students in acquiring vital literacy and numeracy skills. 

“Earlier NAPLAN results will also help parents to engage with teachers to support their children’s learning and provide them with early indications of areas needing greater focus.” 

Dr Perry said schools would be supported to transition to the new timeline for 2023.  

Dr Perry said the Catholic sector also supported the opt-in assessments in science, digital literacy, and civics and citizenship included in the Ministers’ announcement. 

“The opt-in assessment will provide schools with the option to gather benchmark data for their students in other important areas of the curriculum beyond literacy and numeracy. “This valuable data can assist schools to ensure students are achieving their learning goals more broadly and inform ongoing teaching practice,” Dr Perry said.