What NAPLAN Really Tells Us – Jennifer Oaten
Each year, the release of national NAPLAN results generates headlines, league tables and comparisons. While these numbers can provide useful data, at Santa Maria we believe the real story lies beyond the bands and bar graphs. It lies in the growth, the progress and the learning journey of each individual student.
Making Sense of NAPLAN - What Parents Should Know
NAPLAN has been part of the national education framework since 2008. It provides a snapshot of essential literacy and numeracy skills developed through the Australian Curriculum.
For families who are seeking to better understand how NAPLAN operates, what is assessed, and how results are reported, the NAPLAN for Parents and Carers page is a valuable resource.
Since 2023, results have been reported using four proficiency levels: Exceeding, Strong, Developing and Needs Additional Support. Because the assessment is adaptive, more difficult questions simply demonstrate what a student already understands and can do. They are not an indication of failure. The most meaningful insights come from tracking student growth over time in partnership with teachers.
NAPLAN in the News
- National snapshot: According to ACARA’s 2025 NAPLAN National Report, there were modest yet welcome improvements in numeracy, with more students achieving the top level. However, one in three students still falls below the new benchmark.
- Participation rates: A recent AERO analysis confirms that participation levels have returned to pre-pandemic rates. This provides schools with more reliable data to inform support strategies.
These headlines reinforce what we value at Santa Maria. We prioritise early intervention, evidence-based teaching and the opportunity for every student to grow in her own time and way.
- Equity matters: The Guardian reports that one in three students did not meet national benchmarks, with equity gaps persisting for some disadvantaged groups.
Why Year 9 Matters Most
Santa Maria is unique in that our Year 5 cohort is entirely new. Approximately half of our students begin at this point, joining us from more than twenty different primary schools. In Year 7, we welcome additional students, including many boarders. Understandably, NAPLAN results in these early years may vary as students transition and settle.
This is why we place particular importance on Year 9. By this stage, students have been immersed in our learning culture. They have developed strong relationships with teachers who know them well. They have been encouraged to think critically, challenge themselves and grow. Their Year 9 NAPLAN results are a meaningful indicator of the value added through their time at Santa Maria.
This year, our Year 9 students achieved exceptional results. These outcomes reflect the impact of consistent teaching, high-quality programs and a culture that values learning.
"The greatest value of NAPLAN lies not in a single data point but in the growth we observe over time."
Our Three-Year Growth Story
The greatest value of NAPLAN lies not in a single data point but in the growth we observe over time.
We have been closely tracking the progress of our current Year 9 cohort, many of whom commenced with us in Years 5 or 7. Over the past three to five years, these students have demonstrated steady and significant growth across all domains, with particularly strong improvements in numeracy and reading.
This sustained improvement is a reflection not only of academic capability but of consistent, high-quality teaching and targeted support. Additionally, it also reflects a culture where feedback and challenge are embraced and highlights the benefits of a stable and supportive learning environment where students are known, valued and encouraged to stretch themselves.
We are proud of what these results reveal. They are evidence of the value that a Santa Maria education adds each year. They are also the product of a shared commitment from students, staff and families working together.
Academic Growth, Not Just Scores
While we use NAPLAN data to refine and improve our teaching practices, it is not our only measure of success.
Santa Maria has one of the largest Year 12 girls’ cohorts in Western Australia, with many students choosing the ATAR pathway. In 2024, over 40 percent of our students achieved an ATAR above 90, and 65 students received Certificates of Excellence or Distinction. Equally celebrated are the achievements of our ACCESS students and those who gained university entry through UniReady. We recognise that success looks different for every girl.
Our responsibility is to support each student to reach her personal best, whatever that may look like. This is why academic growth over time is such a vital indicator. It is something we monitor and celebrate with great intention.
“We celebrate every milestone in a student’s journey whether it is a strong NAPLAN result, a helping hand, or finding the courage to speak up in class.”
More Than a Test
Academic achievement opens doors, but it is not the only factor that shapes a young person’s future.
We are committed to preparing students not only for the next test but for life. This means equipping them with the skills to use digital tools responsibly, to lead with empathy and to think independently and critically.
Through our emPOWER program, based on the Connecting Learning to Life framework, students develop both academic and personal capabilities that are essential in a changing world. These include collaboration, communication, creativity, resilience, initiative and emotional intelligence.
As part of this future-focused approach, Santa Maria is proud to be one of the first schools in Western Australia to embed ethical AI use and purposeful prompt writing into classroom learning. Our goal is to prepare students not only to meet future challenges but to contribute meaningfully and ethically to the world they will inherit. By integrating these concepts across all learning areas, we help students become adaptable, reflective and capable learners.
This commitment is grounded in our Mercy values and our Strategic Plan. The plan calls us to develop courageous, compassionate change-makers. We believe that wellbeing and academic success are deeply connected. Our Mental Health Strategy ensures that students are supported emotionally and socially. This enables them to flourish both within the classroom and beyond.
Looking Ahead
When students feel a sense of belonging, they are more likely to engage, contribute and take on new challenges. We nurture an environment where every student is known and supported. This allows them to step outside their comfort zones, embrace feedback and grow academically and personally.
Whether it is achieving a strong NAPLAN result, helping a classmate or speaking up in class for the first time, we celebrate every milestone in a student’s journey.
NAPLAN provides a valuable checkpoint, but it does not capture the full story. At Santa Maria, we are committed to supporting every aspect of each learner’s development. We focus on her growth, her confidence and her capacity to make a difference.
At the centre of this growth is our community. The students, staff and families all help to create a culture of belief, encouragement and respect. That belief in every student’s potential is what makes all success possible.
- Academic growth, Catholic girls’ school WA, emPower Program, Evidence-based teaching, Featured, Holistic Education, Literacy and numeracy progress, NAPLAN insights, Santa Maria College, Student Achievement, Year 9 outcomes
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
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