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Home > Our Publications > Australian Outlook> 2007 > December

Standards hit new highs in NSW

NEW South Wales Minister for Education and Training, John Della Bosca has announced primary school literacy, numeracy and writing standards were at a record high following the release of the 2007 Basic Skills Test (BST) results.
The BST assesses the abilities of Year 3 and Year 5 students in writing, reading, language and numeracy.
Mr Della Bosca said the results demonstrated that the State Numeracy Plan, State Literacy Plan and New South Wales curriculum were delivering improved academic achievements.
"Year 3 and Year 5 students recorded the highest overall literacy results ever this year and Year 5 Numeracy results are also the highest on record," the Minister said.
"The results are pleasing but we still need further improvements to reach our 2008 goals. The State Government has made a commitment to students and parents that we will lift literacy and numeracy rates in our schools.
"To achieve this, the Government is investing $616 million over the next four years specifically to improve student literacy and numeracy levels.
"These results are proof that we are delivering on that commitment, and are on track to achieve the ambitious numeracy and literacy targets that have been set," Mr Della Bosca said.
Numeracy Targets - Progress

By 2008 - 92.2 per cent of Year 3 students achieving Band 2 or higher in the numeracy section of the Basic Skills Test; (91 per cent of Year 3 students achieved Band 2 or higher this year)
By 2008 - 94.2 per cent of Year 5 students achieving Band 3 or higher in the numeracy section of the Basic Skills Test; (93 per cent of Year 5 students achieved Band 3 or higher this year)

Literacy Targets - Progress

By 2008 - 89.6 per cent of Year 3 students achieve an acceptable standard or higher in the literacy section of the Basic Skills Test; (91 per cent of Year 3 students achieved acceptable standard or higher this year)
By 2008 - 94.2 per cent of Year 5 students achieve an acceptable standard or higher in the literacy section of the Basic Skills Test; (95 per cent of Year 5 students achieved acceptable standard or higher this year)

"A recent OECD report found NSW students had the second highest levels of literacy in the world and the 2007 BST results confirm this," the Minister said.
"These results are very good, but I believe that we can and will do even better in the future," Mr Della Bosca said.
"Parents will receive their child's BST results shortly.
"The BST offers teachers and parents a valuable insight into their students' academic progress.
"Feedback from the tests enables teachers to pinpoint students' strengths and areas for additional support.
"The Department of Education and Training will target students who are in the lowest band of numeracy achievement, with proven numeracy programs like Count Me In Too.
"While the proportion of children who are struggling has not increased, there is room for improvement to reduce the numbers of young children who struggle with maths.
"The Department of Education and Training will also be offering a range of professional development programs for primary school teachers to teach them new strategies they can use in their classroom to help children who are having difficulty with maths.
"One of the great benefits of the NSW BST program, is that the results are supported by state of the art data analysis software. Feedback from the tests enables teachers to pinpoint students' strengths and areas for additional support."
"They can then use this information to undertake targeted classroom activities to address student's weaknesses.
Mr Della Bosca said this was the final year of the BST before the National Assessment Program begins in 2008.
"The BST has been a key part of the State's successful literacy and numeracy strategy since 1989 and the new national test will expand on its success and provide parents with information on their child's performance compared to other students throughout the country," Mr Della Bosca said.