Naplan: What Parents Really Need to Know
naplan season is here and Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese is telling families what the tests measure and what they do not. The diocese says the assessment provides a consistent, nationwide snapshot of students’ progress in foundational literacy and numeracy, and it uses those results to guide school improvement. Parents are urged to treat naplan as one check‑in among many, keep the process calm, and use local school assessments to view a child’s broader learning trajectory.
Naplan: What it measures — and what it doesn’t
The diocese states clearly that naplan offers useful, comparative data on literacy and numeracy that helps schools identify strengths and areas for targeted support. It is presented as a tool for evidence‑based teaching strategies and a reference point for families to understand how a child tracks against national benchmarks. At the same time, the diocese cautions that naplan is not a measure of a child’s intelligence, potential or whole ability: it does not capture creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, resilience or empathy.
Immediate reactions from school leaders
Lisa Crampton, Head of Primary Learning at Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese, framed naplan as one part of a larger learning picture. “NAPLAN gives us useful data, but it’s only one part of a much bigger learning picture, ” Lisa Crampton, Head of Primary Learning, Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese, said, urging perspective for families. She added practical advice for parents: “Encourage your child to do their best, make sure they’re well‑rested, and remind them that one test doesn’t define them. Students experience explicit literacy and numeracy instruction every day in our classrooms within a multi‑tiered system of support that ensures students receive any additional support they need quickly. “
Practical guidance and what to expect next
At Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese, naplan results are used to monitor progress in lifting each student’s literacy and numeracy skills across the system. The diocese says its 80 primary and secondary schools in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains rely on NAPLAN as one chapter in a child’s broader learning journey while focusing on character, purpose and belonging. For parents seeking direct support, the diocese is offering a free event: “Raising Resilient Kids in a Fast‑Paced World” with Gen Muir on Tuesday 24 March, 7: 00pm–8: 30pm ET, with doors opening at 6: 30pm ET, at St John XXIII Catholic College, Stanhope Gardens.
Looking ahead, the diocese notes that NAPLAN will continue to play a role in Australian education in 2026. Parents should expect naplan to remain a routine diagnostic checkpoint while continuing to lean on daily classroom assessment and school‑based supports to chart their child’s growth. For now, the message from Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese is steady: keep it calm, keep it balanced, and use test results as one of several tools to support long‑term development.
