There have been pleasing outcomes for many of our local students with this month’s announcement of the national NAPLAN results, with Victoria recording several improvements on previous years.

Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) Chief Executive Officer Stephen Gniel highlighted the continuing value of the NAPLAN assessments to schools, parents and carers, and the wider community.

“The purpose of NAPLAN is clear,” Mr Gniel said.

“It’s the only national assessment we have that lets us see whether young Australians are developing critical literacy and numeracy skills, using a national, objective scale.”

According to Federal Minister for Education Jason Clare, “The 2026 NAPLAN results released today (5 August) show improvement in numeracy, but there is more work to do.

“The reading results show why the reforms we are now rolling out are so important.

“Overall results were broadly stable, but around one in 10 students still need additional support.”

New Victorian Premier Ben Carroll had this to say: “In 2026, a record number of students achieved their highest proficiency level.

“Victorian students ranked first or second in 16 of 20 NAPLAN measures.”

Despite the concerns raised by the Federal Minister, Mr Carroll said, “Victoria also has the lowest rate in the nation of students needing additional support.

“There were steady improvements on previous years across all year levels, with Years 5, 7 and 9 numeracy results significantly higher,” he said.

This is reflected in the strong 2026 results received by Mansfield Secondary College as follows:

• 24 Year 9 students were awarded certificates for outstanding achievement and growth.

• Year 9 students recorded significant growth in spelling, grammar and punctuation, and writing, ahead of similar schools around the state.

• Reading growth hit its best result in four years, with 30 per cent of Year 9 students achieving high growth.

• The college’s reading and numeracy growth exceeded its improvement targets.

“We’re incredibly proud of what our students have achieved this year, particularly the growth we’re seeing in reading and numeracy,” acting assistant principal, curriculum and pedagogy, Julian Perry said.

“Those results speak to the hard work of our students and staff.

“But we know results like these come from steady, deliberate work, not chance,” Mr Perry said.

“We look closely at this data, right down to the individual student, so we can extend our highest achievers, support students who need it and keep lifting outcomes for every young person at Mansfield.

“This is an ongoing commitment for us, not a one-off result,” he said.

Mansfield Primary School reported that in numeracy, the proportion of students achieving high and medium growth was above the network average, demonstrating the progress students have made as they have moved through the school.

Year 5 students also achieved high and medium growth above the network average in grammar and punctuation, providing further evidence of continued progress in literacy.

Mrs Salmon said the results were an important part of the story of Mansfield Primary School and demonstrated the school’s commitment to providing students with a high-quality education.

“We want families in our community to know that when they choose Mansfield Primary School, they are choosing a school that is deeply committed to their child’s learning, wellbeing and future,” she said.

“Parents entrust us with something incredibly important, their children.

“We take that responsibility very seriously.”

The school has a strong focus on evidence-informed teaching, with teachers continually developing their practice to ensure students receive high-quality instruction and the support they need to succeed.

“We have been working hard to strengthen our teaching practices, particularly in literacy and mathematics,” Mrs Salmon said.

“We know that strong foundations, consistent teaching and high expectations make a difference, and these results provide us with some wonderful evidence of that impact.”

Mrs Salmon said the school’s focus extends well beyond academic results.

“NAPLAN is only one measure of student achievement.

“At MPS, we want our students to become confident, capable and curious learners who feel safe, supported and valued,” she said.

“We celebrate the growth, confidence, resilience and individual achievements of every child.”

The school’s results are being celebrated alongside the many other opportunities available to students at Mansfield Primary School, including its strong literacy and numeracy programs, specialist learning, STEM, performing arts, visual arts, music, outdoor education and School to Summit program.

“Our goal is to provide every child with a strong educational foundation while giving them opportunities to discover what they are capable of,” Mrs Salmon said.

“We are incredibly proud of our students and our staff, and we are proud to be part of the Mansfield community.”

For families considering their child’s education, Mrs Salmon said the message was simple.

“We want every family to know that Mansfield Primary School is a school where your child will be known, supported, challenged and encouraged to achieve their best.

“Our students are learning, our students are growing and our teaching is making a difference.

“We are incredibly proud of what our school community has achieved.”