Berserker Street State School students have been praised for impressive improvements in their reading, writing and numeracy.

Visiting the school today, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education, Senator Jacinta Collins, said more than 55 per cent of Grade 3 students were now reading above the minimum standard, compared to less than 40 per cent in 2008.

“Also, more than 20 per cent of Year 7 students are in the top two NAPLAN bands for reading, compared with less than 14 per cent in 2008,” Senator Collins said. 

Berserker Street State School, where almost one in three children are Indigenous, has been chosen as one of 100 schools across the country which are being highlighted on the Australian Government’s new Better Schools website.

Ms Livermore said the school had employed learning support teachers and additional teacher aides, increased staff training and set up an Indigenous Learning Centre thanks to federal funding under the Low SES National Partnership.

“This shows that when you direct extra money at what works, it can produce results,” Ms Livermore said.

Under the Gillard Government’s National Plan for School Improvement, more money would be available to schools to invest in teacher training, extra resources, more parental involvement and more power for local principals.

Each year about one million students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 take part in NAPLAN tests (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy).

For more information about Berserker Street State School’s successful results, and the National Plan for School Improvement, visit www.betterschools.gov.au.