The latest NAPLAN results are in, and it's safe to say they're a mixed bag. 

Taken in March by 1.3 million students across Years 3, 5, 7 and 9, this year’s NAPLAN data shows some encouraging signs of progress, but also a concerning number of students falling behind.

About one in three children didn’t meet expected benchmarks in key areas like literacy and numeracy — a trend experts say can’t be ignored.

Latest NAPLAN Results Are In: One in Three Children Still Struggling 

The Big Picture

• 39.2% of students struggled with grammar and punctuation

• One in three students is still underperforming in reading, writing, spelling and numeracy

• The percentage of high-performing Indigenous students in Years 7 and 9 is rising, but students in remote areas, other Indigenous students and disadvantaged students are still well behind their peers.

• More than 20,000 extra students performed at the top level in numeracy compared to last year

With a participation rate of 93.8% — the highest since 2017 — this year’s results offer a clearer view of student progress and system-wide challenges.

What the Experts Are Saying

Dr Jordana Hunter from the Grattan Institute says the stable results year-on-year don’t tell the full story. “One in three students in the bottom two bands is a really big concern. If a child needs additional support, they need help to catch up, and early intervention is critical.”

La Trobe University experts agree, pointing to gaps in how teachers are trained and supported.

Professor Joanna Barbousas says teacher education must evolve to equip every graduate with the skills needed to teach with impact from day one. “When a third of students are missing the mark, it’s not about individual shortcomings. It’s about a system that hasn’t kept pace with what we know works.”

And in maths? Associate Professor Chrissy Monteleone says early intervention and explicit teaching are game changers: “We can see improvements in just 8 to 12 weeks when the right methods are used.”

Signs of Change

The federal government has taken note. Education Minister Jason Clare says new funding agreements with all states and territories are targeting real reforms, including early identification of struggling students, evidence-based instruction, and catch-up tutoring.

The Takeaway

Yes, one in three students is still falling behind. However, with targeted reforms, improved teacher training, and early, evidence-based support, experts agree that there’s a clear path forward and that progress is already underway.

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