NAPLAN results show encouraging performance for BCE students

Brisbane Catholic Education students have delivered encouraging results in the 2026 National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN), with strengths emerging in the primary years and in writing and numeracy.

The 2026 results show BCE students continuing to perform well against national and Queensland averages, with Year 3 students maintaining a strong position above the national average and Year 5 students continuing an upward trend over time.

BCE’s Year 3 cohort maintained a strong lead over national performance, sitting nine points above the national average. 

BCE Acting Executive Director Ross Tarlinton OAM, said the results reflected the commitment of teachers, school leaders, students and families across BCE communities.

“NAPLAN is one important source of information about student learning, and these results give us reason to acknowledge the strong foundations being laid for young people in our care,” Ross Tarlinton said.

“Our Year 3 results continue to demonstrate the strength of early learning across BCE schools, particularly in the foundational areas of literacy and numeracy.

“We thank our teachers, leaders and school communities for their ongoing commitment to improvement, and for the care and professionalism they bring to every classroom, every day.”

Year 5 results were another highlight, with BCE continuing an upward trend over time and moving further above national and Queensland averages. BCE Year 5 students are now five points above the national average and 17 points above the Queensland average. Writing, spelling, numeracy and grammar and punctuation all improved, while reading performed slightly higher than, but continued to follow, the national trend. 

In the secondary years, BCE results broadly followed national trends Numeracy results showed improvement on prior years.

Ross said BCE would continue to use NAPLAN as one of several tools to inform teaching and learning.

“NAPLAN is not a pass or fail test. It is a point-in-time assessment that helps schools, teachers and families understand areas of strength and areas for development,” he said. 

“Our focus remains on continuous improvement, supported by explicit teaching, strong curriculum implementation and a commitment to helping every student grow and thrive.”

BCE’s strong participation in NAPLAN also reflects the value school communities place on the insights provided through the national assessment program. 

Image caption: St Ita's Regional Primary School, Dutton Park students. ©Brisbane Catholic Education (2026).