Reports and Assessment (Prep – Year 6)
How Junior School students are assessed and reported on at St Mary's College: semester reports at the end of Terms 2 and 4 via the Parent Portal (Term 4 report published Wednesday 16 December 2026), NAPLAN for Years 3 and 5 in March, PAT testing and classroom assessment.
Assessment in the Junior School has one purpose: to find out what each child knows and can do so that teaching can meet them where they are. Most assessment is everyday and invisible to students – observation, conferencing, checking work. Twice a year we bring the evidence together in a written report, and at two points (Years 3 and 5) students sit the national NAPLAN tests. This page explains what to expect and when, in line with the College Assessment and Reporting Policy.
Semester reports
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | Terms 1 and 2 | Terms 3 and 4 |
| Published | Thursday 25 June 2026 | Wednesday 16 December 2026 |
| Where | Parent Portal → Reports (PDF, also viewable in the St Mary's Connect app) | Same |
| Followed by | Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences | Optional meetings, Thursday 17 December 2026 |
Reports are not printed; families without Portal access can request a printed copy from the Junior Office. Reports remain on the Portal for the duration of your child's enrolment. Both parents' Portal logins can view reports, including in separated families, unless a court order restricts this.
What is in the report
- Achievement in each learning area on a five-point scale against the Victorian Curriculum standard for the year level (Well Above, Above, At, Below, Well Below). Prep students are reported against the Foundation standard from Semester 2 only; Semester 1 Prep reports describe progress in words.
- Progress – an arrow showing growth since the previous report, which we regard as the more important measure.
- Effort and behaviour indicators for each subject, including specialist subjects.
- Teacher comments for English, Mathematics, Religious Education and Inquiry, plus a general comment from the classroom teacher.
- Learning behaviours – organisation, persistence, cooperation, independence.
- Students with an Individual Learning Plan receive comments on their ILP goals – see Learning Support.
- Attendance – days absent and late for the semester.
NAPLAN – Years 3 and 5
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy is sat by all Australian students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. In 2026 the Junior School NAPLAN window was Wednesday 11 March to Monday 23 March 2026; the 2027 window will be similar (Term 1, Weeks 7–8). Tests are completed online (Year 3 Writing is on paper) in the Library and Year 3/4 and 5/6 Learning Centres, one test per day, in the morning:
| Test | Year 3 | Year 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Writing | 40 minutes | 42 minutes |
| Reading | 45 minutes | 50 minutes |
| Conventions of Language | 45 minutes | 45 minutes |
| Numeracy | 45 minutes | 50 minutes |
Students who are absent sit catch-up tests within the window. Adjustments (extra time, rest breaks, a scribe, a separate room) are available for students with disability and are arranged by Mr Sam Devlin – parents are consulted in Term 4 of the year before. Parents may withdraw a child from NAPLAN on philosophical or religious grounds by completing the withdrawal form available from the Junior Office by the end of February. Individual student reports arrive from ACARA in Term 3 and are sent home in a sealed envelope; teachers are happy to discuss them. We do not "coach" for NAPLAN beyond a few familiarisation sessions with the online tools in the fortnight before.
PAT testing – Years 1 to 6
All students in Years 1–6 sit the ACER Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) in Reading Comprehension and Mathematics twice a year – in February (Weeks 3–4) and November (Weeks 5–6) – online, in class time, taking about 40 minutes each. Prep students sit PAT Early Years in November. PAT results are scaled scores that let us track each child's growth from year to year, regardless of which class or teacher they have. Results are not reported on the semester report, but are discussed at conferences on request and drive placement in intervention and extension groups. Year 6 PAT data is shared with the Senior School to plan Year 7 classes.
Classroom assessment through the year
| Assessment | Year levels | When |
|---|---|---|
| English Online Interview / phonics screening | Prep – Year 2 | February (Prep Wednesdays), and again in November |
| Running records (reading level) | Prep – Year 3 | Every 5 weeks |
| Mathematics Online Interview | Prep – Year 2 | February |
| Moderated writing sample | Prep – Year 6 | Once a term |
| Common unit tests (mathematics and inquiry) | Years 3–6 | End of each unit |
| Spelling and times-tables checks | Years 1–6 | Weekly |
| Italian, Music, Art, PE and STEM tasks | Prep – Year 6 | Once a semester |
Years 5–6 students also keep a digital learning portfolio on the Learning Hub, which they present at conferences.
Learning conversations and "no surprises"
Our aim is that nothing in a written report should come as a surprise. If a student is working well below the expected level, or their progress has stalled, the classroom teacher will contact you well before the report – usually by Week 5 of each semester – so that support can be arranged. Parents are welcome to ask for an update at any time by emailing the teacher.
Transition of information
At the end of each year, teachers hand over assessment data, reports and ILPs to the next year's teacher, and Year 6 data is shared with the Head of Senior School. For students moving to another school, a copy of reports and the Transition Statement is forwarded once the new school requests it. Junior School assessment questions can be directed to your child's teacher, the year-level coordinator or Mr David Okafor. Senior School families should see Assessment and Reporting.