Ambitious academic, HSC attainment and school attendance targets are being introduced to public schools across New South Wales to lift outcomes for students from Kindergarten to Year 12.
New system-wide measures will provide clear guidance for school leaders, and are designed to lift outcomes for all students, including at comprehensive primary and high schools, selective schools, regional and rural schools, and Schools for Specific Purposes.
Schools will be required to strive for ambitious new goals, including:
- Increasing the average NAPLAN reading and numeracy scores in 2027 by:
- 10.2 points for Year 5 Reading
- 5.8 points for Year 9 Reading
- 11.5 points for Year 5 Numeracy
- 5.7 points for Year 9 Numeracy
- Increasing the proportion of NSW students attaining Year 12 from 70.5 per cent in 2022 to 74 per cent in 2027.
- Growing the number of students taking up university, training or work for school leavers from 88.1 per cent to 92 per cent in 2027
- Increasing the average student attendance rate from 87.8 per cent in 2023 to 88.8 per cent in 2027
The new system-wide targets reflect specific improvement targets required of schools in the areas of reading, numeracy and completions. With NAPLAN tests scheduled two academic years apart, data is now available to measure year group improvement after the Commonwealth introduced new NAPLAN baselines in 2023.
Alongside new academic targets, the NSW Department of Education has introduced a suite of system-focused measures to support teachers, schools and school-support staff wellbeing and retention, as well as prioritising key school infrastructure projects.
These measures include reducing teacher administrative time, cutting teacher vacancy rates, and attracting and retaining teachers, as part of its recognition that a strong teaching workforce is critical to improving student learning.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Ms Prue Car said the new targets are about setting high expectations of NSW’s public education system and every one of its students.
“No longer will targets be focused simply on the top-achieving students – these ambitious measures will help lift outcomes for all students across the state,” she said.
NSW Department of Education Secretary Mr Murat Dizdar said the new measures will account for the achievements of all students, not just those in the highest bands.
“We have high expectations for achievement for our public education system, with ambitious reading and numeracy improvement measures being put in place by every school during term 1 this year.
“All public schools aim to ensure all students show growth in their literacy and numeracy skills. We recognise that this is the cornerstone for a successful schooling experience for every student.
“The pathways improvement measure will capture the transitions of all students into meaningful post-school pathways, whether that is tertiary education, technical and further education or paid employment,” he said.
