01-08-2025
Do Naplan results matter? Who are they even for?
Every year, Naplan results are released, and every year there's an annual media frenzy and resulting panic for educators and parents alike. Australia's largest nationwide standardised test, Naplan was launched in 2008 to assess students across the country in literacy and numeracy. The test is meant to help governments, education authorities and schools determine whether students are meeting performance targets, and compare between jurisdictions and demographics. Flash forward to 2025, and Naplan has become a very different beast. The tests have been criticised for placing unnecessary pressure on young students, exacerbated by the media coverage hyping up high performers and pointing the finger over low results. Guardian Australia's education reporter, Caitlin Cassidy, explains
