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Hunter School of the Performing Arts

Hunter School of the Performing Arts

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Telephone02 4952 3355

Emailhuntperfor-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

2020 NAPLAN Communication

NAPLAN

 

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

The decision was made today (Friday 20 March) to cancel NAPLAN testing for 2020.

I have included the department communication sent to schools below.

We have not had the opportunity so late in the day to share this with students, so if you have the opportunity to discuss this with them over the weekend (especially students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9), please assure them it is nothing to worry about.

Planning ahead at the moment is difficult and the less things they have to worry about the better.

Our focus right now is teaching and learning and looking after one another.

We are also expecting a communication from NESA on Tuesday, which will hopefully shed some light on any implications of this virus on Stage 6 preparation.

I am sending an email to all Year 11 and 12 students this afternoon to let them know to continue with all assessment and major work preparation until we are told anything different.

The Department of Education is working closely with NESA and are in discussions about Year 12 and the HSC. They will put plans in place to ensure students are not disadvantaged if schools are closed for a period of time.

Take care over the weekend

Jo

 

NAPLAN information

Education Ministers met today and decided that NAPLAN will not proceed in 2020. The NAPLAN test window was scheduled to be held from 12 to 22 May.

All Education Ministers acknowledge and thank all of our school leaders, our teachers and support staff for the essential work they do every day educating our children and young people, particularly during these challenging times. They are all playing a vital role in managing the response to COVID-19.

Education Ministers reiterated that the National Cabinet has agreed, on the advice of the chief health and medical officers, that “pre-emptive closure of schools are not proportionate or effective as a public health intervention to prevent community transmission of COVID-19 at this time.” The advice of the Chief Health and Medical Officers is available at this link.

The decision to not proceed with NAPLAN in 2020 has been taken to assist school leaders, teachers and support staff to focus on the wellbeing of students and continuity of education, including potential online and remote learning.

Further, the impact of responses to the COVID-19 virus may affect the delivery of NAPLAN testing, including the operation of centralised marking centres and the implications for nationally comparable data if an insufficient number of students are available to do the test.

The decision to not proceed with NAPLAN in 2020 also means that the scheduled testing of the NAPLAN Online platform, known as the Coordinated Practice Test (CPT), will not proceed. Ministers acknowledge the work that departments and schools have undertaken in preparation for the anticipated CPT which was due to commence next week on 23 March.

Education departments and systems will continue to closely monitor health advice and work with schools to ensure appropriate support for students and staff as the response to COVID-19 develops.