Bacchus Marsh Grammar and Darley and Gordon primary schools have been revealed as Moorabool’s top-performing schools in literacy and numeracy.
National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) data – from tests conducted last year in grades 3 and 5 and years 7 and 9 – was released last week.
Bacchus Marsh Grammar scored mostly “above average” ratings across the national test’s five categories, with year 9 rated “above average” in all five.
Principal Andrew Neal said the results were a useful guideline.
“They can highlight areas for individual students to improve,” he said.
Bacchus Marsh Grammar’s scores in grades 3 and 5 and year 7 were average for numeracy and above average for reading and persuasive writing.
Mr Neal said Bacchus Marsh Grammar concentrated heavily on the tested areas and the key to success was a balanced curriculum.
Nine Moorabool primary schools took part in the tests, with Bacchus Marsh, Myrniong, Pentland and St Brigids scoring mostly average ratings.
At Darley, grade 3 pupils recorded average ratings across the board. The results for grade 5 pupils were above average in reading, persuasive writing, grammar and punctuation.
Principal Simon Cornock said teachers and pupils worked hard and the results reflected their efforts.
“We have high expectations and we look out for students on all levels,” she said. ‘‘We have the high-fliers, and they receive extension work. We don’t just lump more on – we give them more engaging and open-ended tasks. And when students are lagging they’re not left behind – they get the help they need.”
Gordon Primary School principal Reg Farquhar said the school was enormously proud.
Its grade 3 pupils were above average in reading, numeracy and grammar and punctuation but scored below average in spelling and persuasive writing.
Grade 5s were rated mostly above average in reading and persuasive writing, and average in spelling, grammar, punctuation and numeracy.
PRISCILLA MOCA
» … myschool.edu.au
