NAPLAN 2023 national results released
Around 10 per cent of students across Australia in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 need additional support in literacy and numeracy to meet higher expectations according to the 2023 NAPLAN National Results released today.
The latest figures also show that:
- approximately 65 per cent of students across Australia are meeting the higher literacy and numeracy expectations, achieving in the ‘Strong’ and ‘Exceeding’ proficiency levels;
- around 23 per cent of students are in the ‘Developing’ level and working towards meeting expectations; and
- participation rates nationally have bounced back in 2023.
Read more.
Data hoarding leads to teacher burnout
School systems have become too reliant on the idea that more data is always a good thing, according to Southern Cross University initial teacher education chair.
Associate Professor Louise Phillips said this reliance may mean attention to individual child and youth learning needs and interests fade into the background.
‘Many teachers in Australia have reported a heavy demand on data collection that is directed by school leaders who are following regional or state directives. And these directives can steer teaching towards delivering the desired data’, Professor Phillips said.
‘Our ARC (Australian Research Council) Project Beyond Global Discourses of Data: Storying learning is exploring how schools in Australia, Singapore, Bangladesh & UK are starting to diverge from the fixation on quantitative data’, she said.
‘We are seeing the emergence of new approaches to data that are holistic, story based and which centre students as active agents.
‘Giving students the opportunity to actively reflect on the insights of the data through data conversations with peers and teachers could unleash so much learning potential.’
Unleashing potential through positive behaviour support
Increasingly, educators are turning to the evidence-based approach known as positive behaviour support (PBS) to address the root causes of disruptive behaviour. A proactive approach, PBS aims to promote positive behaviour while mitigating disruptive and problematic behaviours.
Now experts want to see the approach applied across entire schools.
Research shows that school-wide PBS (or SWPBS), which involves the whole school as part of systematic approach, is more effective than using individual PBS practices.
Dr Erin Leif, Monash University Faculty of Education, said SWPBS helped teachers explore the underlying causes of disruptive and challenging student behaviour and to develop educational interventions to support student academic, behavioural, and social-emotional success at school.
‘Research has shown that the implementation of SWPBS can improve student academic outcomes, reduce the use of exclusionary disciplinary practices, and promote equity and inclusion in schools,’ Dr Leif said.
Time for teachers to have a say
The annual Australian Teacher Workforce Survey is open for teachers to share their story and insights. It’s ‘the teacher voice’ in the Australian Teacher Workforce Data (ATWD) initiative.
The ATWD is a joint initiative between, and is funded by, all state, territory and Commonwealth governments. It is being implemented by AITSL and the state and federal education departments. Find out how to fill out the survey here.
First car awareness campaign for young drivers
The Australian Financial Security Authority is encouraging young people to learn about the importance of searching the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) before buying their first second-hand car privately.
A PPSR search can easily check if there’s finance owing on the car and the possibility it may be repossessed, written off in a previous accident or been affected by natural disasters making it harder to register or insure or recorded as stolen.
Find more information here.
In brief
A second round of consultation is now open for the Years 7-10 draft syllabuses as the next milestone of the NSW Curriculum Reform. Teachers and other stakeholders are invited to provide feedback on the syllabuses through the NESA Consultations webpage.
The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) wants to work with principals to showcase and share their stories through case studies/testimonials about why they love their job as an education leader, which will contribute to improving the status of the profession. Find out more.
The 2023 National Child Protection Week Children’s Activity Booklet is now available for download. Scroll down to find it here.
What’s On
National Child Protection Week 2023 webinar series: 4-8 September, find out more.
The Australian Council for Educational Leaders’ national conference: Brisbane, 27-29 September 2023. Find out more.
2024 Young Adult Summer Eco-Camp hosted by Jesuit and Ignatian Spirituality Australia: This summer camp invites young adults, students, and young professionals aged 18-35 from Australia to connect “head, heart and hands” and explore the call to care for our common home. The camp takes place at JISA Sevenhill, 5-10 February 2024. Find out more.