Vic students top class as writing skills decline
VICTORIAN students have scored their best-ever results for numeracy and reading in the annual NAPLAN test.
The latest NAPLAN results, released today, show the state’s students are leading the nation, with Grade 3 and 5 pupils taking the top spot in five of ten testing areas.
But it’s not all good news. Writing skills dropped for every year level tested across Victoria in line with a national trend.
Education Minister James Merlino said the trend was “concerning”.
“Results for writing across the country have declined,” Mr Merlino said. “Less so in Victoria, but it’s a decline across the country.”
Victoria’s decline in writing was most evident for Year 7, falling more than 10 points in one year.
Further research had been planned to find out why Australian students’ writing skills were in decline.
Meanwhile, average reading scores Grades 3, 5 and Year 9 were the highest recorded since NAPLAN began a decade ago. So too were Grade 5 and Year 9 numeracy.
Students in the bottom bands also lifted their scores while top achievers continued to gain steady increases.
Just 20 per cent of Grade 3 students scored in the bottom three bands this year compared to 24 per cent in 2015, while Grade 5 students in the bottom three bands for reading reduced from 38 per cent in 2015 to 30 per cent this year.
Students from disadvantaged backgrounds were overrepresented in that category.
The inclusion of literacy coaches and the deployment of specialist teaching teams in underperforming schools were among programs credited for the improvement.
Glen Eira College principal Sheereen Kindler anticipated improved results in writing for her cohort, despite the national decline.
Her school introduced a new literacy methodology to boost writing skills and employed a literacy coach with government funding.
“I think teachers are working really hard on reading, writing and in numeracy,” Mrs Kindler said.