NAPLAN test was criticised this year for having an overly challenging writing section

Len Christie t old his students the test is 'unable to measure all of what it is that makes you the valued person that you are'

A Western Australia primary school teacher has written a letter to his students about a controversial schooling test.

The NAPLAN (National Assessment Program-Literacy and Numeracy) is sat by children in years 3, 5, 7 and 9, between the ages of eight to fifteen. The exam tests numeracy, writing, and language conventions such as grammar and spelling.

NAPLAN was criticised this year for having an overly challenging writing section, which saw students marks drop considerably lower than in previous years.

Len Christie wrote a message to his students after they received the results for the NAPLAN test, a controversial examination of numeracy and literacy

Len Christie has been a principal at Beechboro Primary School for 20 years, and he was nominated for Western Australian principal of the year in 2001

Beechboro Primary School principal Len Christie included a letter to his students in the weekly newsletter last Wednesday, after they received their NAPLAN results.

Christie has been a principal at Beechboro for 20 years, and was nominated for WA principal of the year in 2001.

Mr Christie told Nine News the test did not test all of the attributes needed in life.

'I was inspired by reading something similar published by a school in the UK and I thought it was lovely to recognise the fact that you need so many more attributes than literacy and numeracy.'

'While they're fundamentals, they're not the entire picture,' he said.

'In the hearts of family and friends (the students) are very special people. In the school setting, we also value all sorts of other things they do and achieve.

'There's so much more to them than just these aspects'.

Mr Christie also said that that 40 per cent of students speak languages other than English at home, and that they speak 35 different languages in total.

He does believe NAPLAN is a valuable resource, but that teachers should consider the results within the broader picture.

'What we endeavour to do is make sure it's not taken out of context,' Mr Christie said.

'We use the results as a diagnosis tool so that we can identify areas that we can improve on our learning and teaching program,'

The NAPSAN test is sat by children in years 3, 5, 7. It tests numeracy, writing, and language conventions such as grammar and spelling

Mr Christie said the test is not a far measure of literacy since 40 per cent of his students speak languages other than English at home

A copy of the letter Mr Christie sent his students in the school newsletter last Thursday





A copy of the letter is included below:

A Letter to all Students who sat NAPLAN this year

This week you would have received your NAPLAN test results. We are pleased that you tried your very best in these challenging tests and during the weeks and months leading up to them.

I'd like you, your family, friends and teachers to remember that these tests are unable to measure all of what it is that makes you the valued person who you are. The people who have created these tests and those that mark them don't know you as well as your teachers know you, to the extent to which I know you and certainly not the way your family and friends know you.

They don't know that many children at Beechboro Primary School speak one or more languages other than English. They also don't know that you may be a great singer and dancer or that you can play a musical instrument really well. They also don't know how well you can draw beautiful pictures.

They don't know that you have a sense of humour which can bring a smile to your friend's faces and make them laugh or that they can rely upon you to support them when they need a kind and encouraging word. They wouldn't know that you can write poetry and stories, play all types of different sports and have interesting and enjoyable hobbies.

They also don't know that you probably accept responsibility for taking care of your brothers or sisters from time to time. They don't know that you have travelled to or come from fascinating places and had amazing experiences.

They don't know how much you love spending time with your family and your close friends and they won't know how much you are appreciated and loved by them.

You are trustworthy, kind and thoughtful and you try to do your best every day. Do they know that?

The NAPLAN test results give you some very specific information about yourself but it can't say everything about who you are and what you have achieved.

I hope you are happy with your results and that they inspire you to do even better in literacy and numeracy. Just remember that there is so much more to describe who you are that can't be shown in these scores.

Len Christie

Principal