All students must have completed the NAPLAN tests, including 'catch-up' tests from 13 to 16 May. Schools are no longer permitted to administer the NAPLAN tests unless they have prior approval from BOSTES.

Schools are requested to ensure that all test books, except unused blank books, are packed and lodged at a post office by 21 May.

PAR

Principals and NAPLAN coordinators must ensure the following sections in the PAR website are completed:

• Student Test Participation - is to be updated to show the participation status (present, absent, exempt, withdrawn, sanctioned abandonment, left school/deleted) for each student in each test, and the disability adjustments which were actually accessed in each test must be indicated
• Confirmation - must be completed when the book count is correct across all tests and cohorts. The number of book returns calculated by PAR must be reconciled against the actual number of test books being returned for each test aspect and each cohort. The PAR Non-Participation Report should be checked to review non-attendance and, if any subsequent changes need to be made in Student Test Participation, then the Confirmation boxes in the Summary Report must be unticked
• Returning Test Materials - the date and post office where the materials were lodged must be recorded
• Test Session Comments (optional) - schools may use this section to record test issues that may assist when interpreting the results.

The PAR Manual will assist schools in completing PAR. Schools can also contact the BOSTES team or the NAPLAN Helpline (1800 992 735).

Test materials

Unused test books, including personalised books for students who were absent, exempt or parent withdrawals are not to be sent to processing. Completed test materials should be checked to ensure that no additional scrap paper is inside the books, then counted to ensure that the cohort count matches the count calculated by PAR. This includes special print test books.

All test books for processing are to be packed using the NAPLAN delivery boxes. All special print test materials must be packed inside the 'special print' bag and placed on top of the test books. Personalised test books for students who used special print are not be returned, except in the case of Braille students. Braille boxes are to be sent directly to the Braille and Large Print Services.

A return eParcel label must be applied to the outside of each return box, placed over the consignment label. A Test Materials Packing Video can be viewed on the PAR website to assist schools with correctly packaging test materials.

The BOSTES NAPLAN team acknowledges the efforts of all NSW Principals, NAPLAN coordinators, test administrators and school administration staff in ensuring the smooth administration of the 2014 NAPLAN tests in their schools.

For more information, contact:
NAPLAN team
naplan.nsw@bos.nsw.edu.au
(02) 9367 8382