Questions are being raised as to the meaning of those results and the influences they have on students and schools.

 The Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) began The National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) as an annual assessment for students as part of the school calendar in 2008.

According to the ACARA website on NAPLAN, the tests are designed to identify whether all students have the literacy and numeracy skills that provide the critical foundation for their learning, and for their productive and rewarding participation in the community. Students are assessed using common national tests in reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.

NAPLAN tests broadly reflect aspects of literacy and numeracy common to the curriculum in each state or territory. The types of test formats and questions are chosen so that they are familiar to teachers and students across Australia.

Trevor Cobbold, an economist for the Australian Productivity Commission for more than 30 years and convener of the Save Our Schools public education advocacy group spoke to the Tribune about the issues relating to the NAPLAN test.

"Up until 2008 schools were given a National Standardised Test, beginning in 1998 which provided parents with a report on their child's progress covering years 3,5,7 and 9. Nothing was published about the schools, only material on the state based average," Mr Cobbold said.  

In 2008 these tests evolved into NAPLAN under Julia Gillard, designed to increase the accountability and allocation of resources and funds to schools.

However as Mr Cobbold explains, critics argue that the NAPLAN test comes with some high costs.

"It doesn't actually give you an indication of the quality of a particular school. There are so many different variables that affect how kids perform in these exams, from a dog barking next door to a child having an off day, there are lots of distractions."

He said impacts like the socio-economic climate can directly influence these results.

"Our argument is that it isn't a clear indicator of the success of the school. Some impacting factors include post codes, private tuition and low income communities, it becomes a question of accountability. With this in mind there are concerns as to whether the NAPLAN test is an accurate indicator into the assessment of our schools."

NAPLAN is used to provide information that can be used to improve teaching and learning, as well as to increase the accountability of schools and teachers, assessed to determine funding.

"Because the school reputation is involved, some schools start practicing for the NAPLAN Test at the start of the year, distracting them from the curriculum and their fully rounded education. There have also been reports of cheating, influenced by gaming, and asking kids to stay at home on the day," Mr Cobbold continued.

The Yass Valley has more pressure to maintain its good schooling reputation with Canberra being only a stones throw away and alternate educational facilities readily available.  

Mr Cobbold suggested that it's not just the schools reputation that is on the line, but also the morale of an entire town.

"Newspapers are encouraged to publish league tables, where some publish school by school results in order of their success. Some publications only publish the top 100 schools in the state, others publish the worst schools."

"It is quite dangerous because the schools maybe doing a great job with those kids and one exam is not a true reflection of what is going on.

"The results can be quite volatile, you may get a couple of bright kids in and that will change the entire average."