A number of Catholic schools have been commended by the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) for demonstrating notable improvement in the latest NAPLAN results released today on the My School website.
There were 41 Catholic schools named in ACARA’s ‘Schools Making a Difference’ list, representing those schools achieving above expectation.
Student attendance data also showed Catholic school attendance rates are 1.8% higher than the national average at 90.1%.
National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) executive director Jacinta Collins said while only one measure, NAPLAN provides valuable insights for school leaders and teachers to better support literacy and numeracy learning for each student.
“While not all schools are named on the ‘making a difference’ list, all Catholic schools are making a difference,” Jacinta said.“As we head towards the end of the school year, we recognise the work of our teachers and school leaders in supporting the diverse needs of their students and lifting educational outcomes.”
“To support school communities, the NCEC is collaborating with states, territories and dioceses to develop and identify high quality teaching resources and professional development in literacy and numeracy.
“One example of the Catholic sector’s investment in educational excellence is the Mastery in Mathematics program. Working alongside a number of pilot Catholic dioceses we now have a full year’s worth of high-quality, evidence-based and adaptable mathematics teaching resources for Years 7 and Year 8. This work will continue with Year 9 and 10 resources rolling out over the coming 18 months.” St Raphael’s Catholic Primary, South Hurstville and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Primary, Mount Pritchard are two schools highlighted as making a difference in New South Wales.
Principal of St Raphael’s Mark Abad said a strong commitment to teaching excellence, collaboration and the individual growth of every student was at the heart of the school’s success.
“One important aspect embedded here is that our teachers work together tirelessly, engaging in collaborative inquiry to continually enhance their teaching practices based on student data,” Mark said..
“We also take pride in our commitment to embedding evidence-based instructional practices in all classrooms. We have experienced classroom teachers and intervention teachers in every literacy and mathematics classroom. Regular data analysis allows teams of teachers to provide targeted interventions, ensuring no student is left behind.”
Principal of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Michelle McKinnon said she was proud of her staff and students achievements in this year’s NAPLAN results.
“I’m so proud of the extraordinary commitment of the staff and students to the school’s Vision for Learning, which upholds growth for all students and high expectations for learning,” Michelle said.
“This shared vision has been the compass guiding our remarkable achievements and reflects the dedication and excellence of our school community.”
Queensland Catholic Education Commission executive director Allan Blagaich said it was wonderful to see a number of Queensland schools recognised for the great work they’re doing to continually improve student outcomes.
“Our teachers and school leaders work incredibly hard to help every student achieve their best, and these results show that this dedication is paying off. While eight schools have been included in the list this year, they represent the quality of teaching and learning happening in Catholic schools right across Queensland, and right across the country,” Alan said.
For more information go to the MySchool website.
Pictured: Principal of St Raphael’s Catholic Primary South Hurstville Mark Abad with students.