The release of NAPLAN results has once again brought the literacy and numeracy skills of our

nation’s children into question. Words such as "alarming", "declining" and "backwards" are dominating the headlines. Parents who place their trust in their child’s school and Australia’s education system are left questioning whether their faith is misplaced.

NAPLAN results under the spotlight again. Credit:Adam McLean

Rigorous debate has long surrounded the impact NAPLAN has on Australia’s education system, our schools and, ultimately, our children. But what consideration has been given to the impact of NAPLAN on parenting? How does NAPLAN influence the way we raise our children and tomorrow’s leaders?

The reality is that NAPLAN serves as a benchmark for parental priorities. And not in a helpful way.

The Education Council of the Council of Australian Governments this year commissioned a review of NAPLAN. The resulting NAPLAN Reporting Review recognised that "Australian governments and school systems rely on NAPLAN to make judgments about school and school system performance …"

Parents must not be excluded from this statement; they rely on NAPLAN too.