Reading and writing worsens in Australian schools as one in three students fail to meet Naplan benchmarks

<p>Education minister Jason Clare says the results showed ‘real challenges’ but numeracy scores were heartening</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/aug/04/breaking-news-icac-liberal-politics-royal-commission-antisemitism-gambling-ad-inquiry-anthony-albanese-labor-angus-taylor-coalition-pauline-hanson-one-nation-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Reading and writing scores are going backwards for almost every age group in Australia’s national standardised school tests, with one in three students still failing to meet Naplan benchmarks.</p><p>This year’s tests were taken in March by 1.2 million students across years 3, 5, 7 and 9 to measure literacy and numeracy proficiency, with results released on Wednesday by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (Acara).</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/04/naplan-results-2026-reading-writing-australian-school-standards">Continue reading...</a>