Transforming 2025 NAPLAN writing results with a whole-school approach

For many schools, boosting NAPLAN results in writing feels like an uphill battle. But what if the secret to success wasn’t more drills and practice tests, but a shift in how writing is taught?

We surveyed schools that have embraced a whole-school approach to writing using the Seven Steps to Writing Success program about how they felt about the 2025 NAPLAN writing task. The results are in, and they paint a compelling picture: this isn’t just about small gains – it’s about a complete transformation in student confidence and performance.

“Delighted! The results were better than I expected.”

Out of all the teachers we surveyed who taught a NAPLAN year leading up to the 2025 test, a staggering 94% saw an improvement in their students’ results, with 41% of those reporting a ‘significant improvement.’ These aren’t just minor improvements; these are the kinds of shifts that set students up for lasting success.

Teachers expressed a strong sense of satisfaction and pride in their students’ achievements this year. And felt Seven Steps was the major factor in this change.

“We have seen a high surge of success in their writing, which is more creative and fun. They can think of new ideas better and the NAPLAN results have massively improved,” shared Rumana Mazhar from Iqra College.

For many, the results exceeded their expectations, validating their commitment to a new way of teaching writing. The data speaks to a powerful outcome: a whole-school approach doesn’t just improve scores; it builds a foundation for lasting success.

A case study in success: Dardanup Primary School

The remarkable outcomes aren’t just statistics; they’re real stories from schools that have seen exciting progress. A perfect example is Dardanup Primary School in Western Australia. By committing to a whole-school approach, they achieved a standout milestone: “Our results were incredible. We were actually the highest performing school for Year 3 literacy in the South West,” shared Deputy Principal Rebecca Edwards.

They began their writing improvement journey with a whole-school Seven Steps professional development day in 2023. From the outset, their approach was deliberate and structured, ensuring consistency across every classroom. 

This structured framework gave students the confidence to approach writing with purpose, helping them overcome their fear of the “blank page”. The impact was clear in their 2025 NAPLAN results, where Year 3 students improved significantly, achieving outcomes well above similar schools and the state average.

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More than just a score: The change in students

Beyond the improved scores, the most powerful insights came from the students themselves, revealing a visible change in their approach to writing.

A clear structure and newfound confidence 

Many teachers reported that Seven Steps has given students a clear, actionable structure that empowers them. Students no longer feel overwhelmed by the task. Instead, they have a roadmap.

• “The Seven Steps help them to order their thinking and the visual layouts have given them clearer planning strategies,” shared Emma McAfee, Literacy Leader from St James Catholic College in Tasmania. 
• Ms Laura Robinson from Lighthouse Christian College shared: “They are more confident to plan their writing. And their writing is more focused.“

Unleashed their creativity

Seven Steps has also unleashed student creativity. 

• Rumana from Iqra College is so proud of her students’ “ability to think of ideas and the quality of their writing. Having done lots of action activities for Step 1: Plan to Success and using the technique ‘paint a word picture’ (from Step 5: Show, Don’t Tell), students are writing with pride and confidence.” 
• “Student ideas have become more imaginative as they start ‘in the action’ and their writing more vibrant with ‘ban the boring’.” – Emma from St James Catholic College.

Focusing on the ‘why’ behind the words

For years, many schools have over-emphasised the ‘secretarial skills’ of writing – the spelling and grammar – at the expense of authorial skills. Seven Steps flips this script, focusing on the authorial (or composition) skills that have the biggest impact on a piece of writing… and NAPLAN results. 

• “We are concentrating more on authorial skills, which is a big change from over-doing secretarial skills (which is boring),” said Laura Robinson from Lighthouse Christian College.
• Megan Anne Denney, HOC from Sarina State High School, shared, “Their writing skills and confidence on their writing is improving.“
• Teachers noticed students using the Seven Steps structure in other areas, such as public speaking competitions, where they won prizes for their well-crafted speeches.

This approach has led to remarkable outcomes, with students not only improving their scores but also developing skills they’ll use for a lifetime. They are learning to think logically, craft engaging arguments and write with purpose and pride.

Ultimately, a whole-school approach to writing isn’t just about acing a test. It’s about building a school culture where every student sees themselves as a writer – and is armed with skills, confidence and a lifelong love of writing.