New England NAPLAN tests back again in 2021, but locals want changes made

The practice tests for this year's NAPLAN will be completed between March 22-April 23.

Michael Sciffer, president of the Armidale Teachers' Association, and Rachael Sowden, president of the New England Regional P&C, both want to see the annual test reviewed by the powers that be.

The test, which is put together by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), is taken by all students in years 3, 5, 7, and 9 across the country, to determine where they stack up against others.

Students didn't have to complete the test in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it's going to be back in action this year.

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Mr Sciffer and Ms Sowden both agree the test doesn't support individual students, particularly those in regional versus metro areas.

Mr Sciffer said people needed to know what that "gap" was, but he believed it could be done in a way to ensure everyone got a fair go.

"NAPLAN is like the same test for every kid, but it doesn't cater for individual needs and doesn't fit into the program. If you're working in a school with a lot of disadvantaged students, those students tend to be further behind," he told the Leader.

"You need something different to them compared to those in a North Shore Sydney school with really advantaged students."

Ms Sowden said even some of the questions in past tests weren't relevant to regional and rural kids.

"If they're talking about lifesavers at Bondi Beach, does the student in Boggabilla or Boggabri know? How do they get into that head space for that question?" she said.

But an ACARA spokeswoman said the development of NAPLAN test items was an "extensive process that takes over 18 months", where test developers use contexts that "are intended to be accessible by all students".

"One of the review lenses is accessibility for students in all geolocations. The review process is followed by trialling, where a sample of students from city and rural areas of each state and territory try all potential test questions," the spokeswoman said.

"The data from these trials is analysed and then questions that meet the test specifications are selected for the final tests. After that, ACARA's measurement experts review the tests and trial data, and provide advice before the tests are once again reviewed by state and territory assessment and curriculum experts and then finalised.

"This rigorous, extended process is designed to make sure the test items are suitable for students of all locations throughout the whole of Australia."

Ms Sowden was also concerned by the sudden move to online testing, and Mr Sciffer said it focused too much on typing skills.

"It creates huge angst for children and teachers and [disruptions] usually happen at schools which don't have great internet connection," Ms Sowden said.

"I think it should be online, I think it's the way of the future, but not until everyone has the access of internet, and NSW schools aren't on NBN."

Mr Sciffer said those in disadvantaged families may not have the same access to technology, "so they don't have the same exposure to typing skills" for NAPLAN Online.

However, the ACARA spokeswoman said NAPLAN Online was "not about keyboarding skills".

"Ensuring students are familiar with using devices, typing on them and navigating through programs is a part of students' everyday learning and a requirement of the Australian Curriculum. Students do not have to be able to touch-type to successfully complete the tests," she said.

"Between 2012 and 2015, ACARA conducted a number of research trials into student engagement with aspects of online assessments and found that no students reported feeling penalised for typing their responses. Overall, students described typing as an easier method for changing and correcting answers.

"All year 3 students complete the writing test on paper."

NAPLAN Online will commence from May 11-21, and paper tests will be done between May 11-13.

ACARA anticipates most schools will move to online in 2022.

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