4 August 2016

Academics have started to assess the detail in the Naplan results. Although overall there doesn't appear to be much difference in scores now compared to students in 2008, there has been some significant increases, particularly in Queensland. Scores for children in Yr 3 this year showed a huge improvement compared to 2008. Interestingly, Queensland received the biggest increase in federal funding betwen 2008 and 2016 (34%).

Overall, though, why aren't we seeing progress? Hinz and O'Connell from Victoria University suggest: 

• Schools in the poorest socio economic areas have the worst results - so they need funding increases.
• Often children from the poorest backgrounds miss out on early education, so they miss important foundations.
• Naplan of course is limited, in that it tests only a few areas, and emphasis on these could inhibit overall learning.

Read the full article here