NAPLAN results: 15 Tasmanian schools achieve above-average literacy and numeracy
Fifteen Tasmanian public and private schools have achieved above-average NAPLAN scores in the latest figures published on the My School website.
The schools were among 300 identified nationally by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) as achieving above-average gains compared to similar schools.
Two government primary schools, Goulburn Street and Landsdowne in West Hobart, made gains in both numeracy and reading in grades three to five.
Six other public primary schools achieved gains in either numeracy or reading in the same grades.
Princes Street in Sandy Bay, Punchbowl in Newstead and West Launceston improved in numeracy, while Riverside, Scottsdale and Longford made gains in reading.
Parklands High School in Romaine and Kings Meadows High achieved gains in numeracy in grades seven and nine.
Five independent schools also made the list.
Calvin Christian School in Kingston made above-average gains in reading for grades three and five, while Oakwood in Claremont improved reading in grades seven to nine.
Launceston Church Grammar, Launceston Christian School and The Friends School in North Hobart all made gains in numeracy for years seven and nine.
The 2015 update of the My School website compares results from schools with students from similar socio-educational backgrounds.
ACARA chairman Professor Barry McGaw said My School allowed for fair comparisons to be made between schools with similar students.
Minister denies favouring private schools
Meanwhile, Tasmania's Education Minister has tried to deflect claims he favours private over public schools.
In Parliament, Greens MP Nick McKim claimed departmental documents showed funding to public schools this school year was being cut by $18 million.
He said independent schools would get an increase of $1.4 million at a time when public schools struggled to absorb budget cuts.
Mr McKim accused Mr Rockliff of engaging in class warfare.
The Government responded by producing figures for the 2014-15 financial year, saying public school funding increased by 2.6 per cent compared with 2.4 per cent for the private sector.
The Minister said he received a hostile reception from independent schools after last year's budget.
"They were giving me a right old go," he said.
Mr Rockliff initially told Parliament private schools proportionally lost the same amount of funding as public schools, but in response to another question, would only say private school funding was less than expected.
