At the Catholic Education Diocese of Bathurst, we are committed to fostering the academic, spiritual, and personal growth of every student. Each year, the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is undertaken by students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. Students will participate in tests for writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar, and punctuation) and numeracy.

Why NAPLAN Matters

NAPLAN reflects key areas of literacy and numeracy, foundational to lifelong learning. Conducted annually for Years 3, 5, 7, and 9, it assesses skills in reading, writing, spelling, grammar, and numeracy. While not the sole measure of ability, it offers a snapshot of progress and helps students build resilience under test conditions.

The Value of NAPLAN data

For parents, NAPLAN data highlights your child’s strengths and areas for growth. For teachers, it informs targeted strategies to meet individual and class needs. On a broader scale, NAPLAN helps our schools:

● Identify trends and evaluate teaching methods

● Allocate resources effectively

● Enhance educational outcomes collaboratively NAPLAN has been scheduled for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 in Week 6 of this term.

The details are as follows:

Wednesday 12th March: Writing

Thursday 13th March: Reading

Thursday 13th March: Conventions of Language

Friday 14th March: Numeracy

Your child will need to have the following items for testing:

● Plug-in/ wired headphones - no airpods or similar (wired supplied at a cost to families)

Working Together for Your Child:

NAPLAN is just one tool among many. Our schools approach it with a supportive mindset, encouraging students to do their best while emphasising their broader talents. Open conversations with your child about NAPLAN’s purpose can foster confidence, and regular communication with teachers ensures we are collectively supporting their learning.

Please be assured that your child is well prepared for NAPLAN, as the work that they complete across all of the subject areas is ample preparation for these assessments, and there is no need for them to undertake additional study. Our key message is that these tests are diagnostic in nature, providing your child and their teachers with a snapshot of where they sit on the learning continuum for numeracy and literacy and identifying the skills and areas where your child can experience future growth. It would be appreciated if you could reinforce this message with your child in your conversations at home.

The following links will provide support for your child/ren in preparing for the online nature of these assessments and also answer any questions you may have.

The Public Demonstration Site is available to see the types of questions, tools, and functions used in the NAPLAN tests.

Further information about NAPLAN is available on the NESA website