New progress check for years 5, 9 hailed as ‘enlightened’ test

Public schools will be able to give students in years 5 and 9 an optional online literacy and numeracy assessment next term to check how they are tracking in key areas after disruptions to schooling and the cancellation of NAPLAN due to COVID-19.

The NSW Teachers Federation has hailed the new, on-demand test as a “more enlightened approach” to testing, as it is optional, provides results within a few days, and comes with strategies to target areas of student weakness.

The NSW Department of Education wrote to schools this week, saying the optional assessment would be available online between weeks five and seven of the third term, so schools can choose the time within that window that best suits them.

“The check-in assessments are designed to supplement existing school practices to identify how students are performing in literacy and numeracy, and to help teachers tailor their teaching more specifically to student needs,” the department said in a letter to staff.