A QUEENSLAND school was caught telling parents to withdraw their child from NAPLAN testing, with the state responsible for some of the highest withdrawal rates in the country.

Test materials were also opened earlier than allowed in three schools, while one class in two schools were caught giving “inappropriate assistance” to students in Queensland, according to an Australian Curriculum ­Assessment and Reporting Authority report out today.

The scandals are examples of more than 50 test inci­dences nationally, including seven cases of cheating.

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In most circumstances no evidence was found that results were compromised but in one case a school was counselled about the importance of participation protocols.

The Courier-Mail has previously reported concerns that underachieving students have been encouraged to stay home so as not to affect results.

The Australian Parents Council executive director Ian Dalton said the reasons some parents felt the need to withdraw children from NAPLAN needed to be examined.

Further details around the findings were not released, including what parents were told by the school.

Queensland Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek recently called for a review of unintended consequences caused by the exams, including stress on students.

“I’m certainly aware there are parents who are concerned,” he said. “(NAPLAN testing) is not an indicator for success in life … the more information we have, the more we can use it to inform policy decisions and outcomes.”

media_camera Queensland was found to have some of the highest withdrawal rates in the country as more parents choose to keep students at home during NAPLAN testing.

ACARA research and development senior manager Goran Lazendic said the numbers in relation to cheating were “particularly low”.

“It affects the credibility of the program … (but) because these incidences are so low, we can have extremely high conscience the results we are reporting are true.”

Queensland had the highest withdrawal rates in years 7 and 9, more than double the national average in both cases. The state’s rates of withdrawal were second only to the ACT in years 3 and 5.

Queensland Association of State School Principals president Michael Fay said the decision to withdraw a child was up to the parent.

“Some are choosing to withdraw their children who would have difficulty completing the test,” he said. “In some incidences, it might be the fact parents don’t see the value of NAPLAN.”