Do Naplan results matter when picking a school for your child? This is a question I am frequently asked and the answer is complicated. It is true that many of the 'desirable' schools post high Naplan results but this is not necessarily a direct result of better teachers or teaching.
Interestingly, I have found that many of the 'high performing schools' encourage their students to study for the Naplan and many of these students do in fact engage in extra literacy and numeracy lessons outside of school, particularly on the weekends. In my opinion, it is this encouragement of higher learning and engaging in extra learning that contributes to better Naplan results.
It is therefore important to find a school that is effective in encouraging extra learning and offering extra classes in literacy and numeracy.
Your school of choice, and its teachers, should take the Naplan Test seriously as it a test to ensure that your child is reaching the basic milestones of literacy and numeracy. There should be no complacency in this regard.
It is also worth asking your prospective school whether it has a "literacy" or "numeracy" policy. If the answer is "no" or "what do you mean?" - steer clear.
Stay tuned for my blog: What is a Literacy and Numeracy School Policy?
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