This week the analysis of the national testing program for 2013 (NAPLAN) was released to schools although the 2013 MySchool information has not as yet been published. This analysis allows Scotch College to examine our numeracy and literacy development relative to state, national and 'like school' standards. 'Like schools' for each school are determined from a range of measures throughout Australia. Interestingly our 'like schools' list usually includes a high proportion of single sex female schools and selective schools from significantly wealthy areas throughout Australia. I would not want to give the impression that this is not a welcome comparison. On the contrary we embrace having our programmes challenged against the best performing schools in Australia. Only by being measured against the best can we determine our parameters for improvement.
Against state and national measures we can feel very pleased with our results at all levels of Year 3, 5, 7 and 9. Compared to our nominated 'like schools', we have made significant relative improvements in the areas of numeracy, reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation and can hold our heads up proudly as being amongst the best in the country.
There is a great deal of material for us to examine both at the micro and macro level. Teachers at Scotch College welcome this material and in fact we have moved to fill the gaps, employing the Allwell testing group to provide data for the 'even' years of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. This enables us to have a more complete picture of our whole school teaching programme and of our boys as individuals in the important areas of literacy and numeracy, which form the building blocks of success in future learning.
We are informed that the NAPAN reports will arrive shortly and we will then pass them on to parents.
Jan Skidmore
Director of Teaching and Learning
