NAPLAN Overhaul: Stopping Gamification and Exclusion in Australian Schools

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) has been a cornerstone of Australian education since its inception in 2008, providing standardized tests for students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 across reading, writing, conventions of language (spelling, grammar, and punctuation), and numeracy. Designed to offer a snapshot of foundational skills essential for future learning, NAPLAN results inform teachers, schools, parents, and policymakers about progress and areas needing support. However, recent critiques, including a pointed call from Jarrod Kanizay, CEO of TeachingJobs.com.au, highlight growing concerns: "The gamification of NAPLAN by many schools to positively promote themselves is disgraceful. We need to get NAPLAN back to being a true reporting tool of how we need to improve. Stop schools preparing for NAPLAN and from deliberately leaving some children from sitting NAPLAN." This sentiment echoes broader frustrations within the education sector.

Understanding NAPLAN's Evolution and Purpose

NAPLAN tests transitioned to online delivery starting in 2018, with a shift in timing from May to March in 2023 to better align with the school year and allow earlier interventions. Administered by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), the program aims to track national standards without serving as a high-stakes exam for individual students. Results are publicly available via the My School website, enabling comparisons across over 10,000 schools.Learn more about NAPLAN from ACARA. Yet, the public nature of these rankings has unintended consequences, turning what should be a diagnostic tool into a reputational battleground for schools.

Evidence of Schools Gaming the System

Research reveals a disturbing trend: schools strategically withdrawing lower-performing students to inflate average scores. A 2024 study by UNSW's Gigi Foster and University of Melbourne's Mick Coelli analyzed data from 6,981 schools between 2008 and 2015, finding that post-2010 My School launch, withdrawal rates surged in underperforming schools relative to peers.8629 Private independent schools were twice as likely to pull students after poor prior results, using parental withdrawals—a process where principals approve opt-outs—while absences and exemptions stayed stable. This 'gaming' masks true performance, particularly hiding weaknesses among disadvantaged students.

• Withdrawal fraction increased specifically in low-ranked schools.
• Private schools showed pronounced behavior to protect enrollment and fees.
• Poorly performing students disproportionately affected.

Excessive Preparation and 'Teaching to the Test'

Many schools dedicate weeks or months to NAPLAN drills, diverting time from holistic curriculum. Teachers report 'teaching to the test' narrows focus to testable skills, sidelining creativity, critical thinking, and wellbeing. Surveys indicate 75% of educators view NAPLAN as ineffective for assessment, citing increased workloads and student anxiety.48 In one case, primary students practiced sample tests daily, leading to burnout before the real event. This preparation skews results, making them less reflective of everyday learning and more a product of coaching.

Exclusion Practices and Opt-Out Trends

Deliberate exclusion via opt-outs undermines equity. While participation hit 93.8% in 2025—the highest since 2017—rates vary by school type and demographics.84 Independent schools have double the withdrawal rates of public ones, often targeting students likely to score low.71 Priority equity groups—Indigenous, remote, low-SES—participate less, declining faster, rendering their needs invisible in official data. Parents may be encouraged to withdraw to avoid 'dragging down' averages, perpetuating inequality.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

Recent Disruptions: The 2026 Technical Glitch

Compounding issues, NAPLAN 2026 faced nationwide online platform failures on day one (March 11), halting tests for hours amid a server error.85 Affecting Years 5,7,9 (Year 3 paper-based unaffected), ACARA CEO Stephen Gniel apologized, arranging resits. Schools called it a 'nightmare,' raising fairness questions—did early starters gain advantage? This glitch spotlighted over-reliance on tech without robust backups.

2025 Results: Stagnation and Widening Gaps

Latest data shows stability but no progress: one-third of 1.3 million students below benchmarks in at least one domain, with 39.2% struggling in grammar/punctuation.84 Numeracy 'exceeding' rose slightly (20,000 more students), literacy improved marginally since 2023. Yet disparities persist: remote Indigenous students 92% below benchmark vs. 26% urban non-Indigenous; parental education gap spans five years by Year 9. Victoria and ACT lead, NT lags.

Grattan Institute's Jordana Hunter warns of 'troubling' equity gaps, urging evidence-based interventions like phonics.Read the full Guardian analysis.

Stakeholder Perspectives: Teachers, Principals, and Parents

Teachers decry NAPLAN's stress: AEU calls for scrapping it for teacher-led assessments.76 Principals advocate reform—sample testing, less public ranking—to retain value without gaming. Parents split: some value benchmarks, others see harm in anxiety. Tasmania educators imposed a 2026 ban amid industrial action, escalating debates.

Impacts on Teaching and Learning

Gamification shifts priorities: time lost to drills erodes play-based early learning, deepens curriculum narrowing. Stressed students underperform; teachers burn out planning mocks. Disadvantaged schools face enrollment drops from poor rankings, despite gaming attempts. True reporting suffers, delaying targeted support.

Pathways to Reform: Constructive Solutions

Experts propose:

• Sample testing (10-20% students) to reduce stakes.
• Cap withdrawals, report exclusion rates transparently on My School.
• Shift to growth measures over snapshots.
• Enhance teacher PD in literacy/numeracy without test focus.
• Integrate with ongoing assessments.

Foster suggests My School notes on high exclusions signaling potential underperformance.86 Education Minister Jason Clare ties funding to reforms like tutoring. Kanizay's call aligns: refocus on improvement, not promotion.Explore the UNSW study.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

Future Outlook for Australian Education

With 2034 funding goals, NAPLAN overhaul could restore trust. Pilots like NAP opt-in for Years 6/10 show flexibility. Balanced reform—retaining diagnostics, curbing misuse—benefits K-12 students, empowering teachers to teach holistically. Schools prioritizing genuine growth will thrive, attracting talent via platforms like TeachingJobs.com.au.