Researchers ‘hone in’ on what boosts NAPLAN scores

Researchers have found more homework doesn’t mean better NAPLAN results, but happier kids perform better.

Analysis of the wellbeing and academic performance of 3400 year seven to nine students found happier kids, on average, score two points higher on their NAPLAN maths scores, students who say they are not depressed also perform an average of 2.5 points higher on reading.

Professor of Psychology at the Australian National University, Kate Reynolds, says researcher shave been able to “really hone in just on the relationship between wellbeing and NAPLAN performance, controlling or factoring in over 40 other variables”.

“What it’s showing is that we really should also be focused on … student wellbeing, for it’s own sake so we have healthier sort of happier students, but also because we know that it’s related to how well they might perform at school,” she told Ross and Russel.

Professor Reynolds says the “jury is still out on homework” and whether it benefits students.

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