In the lead up to the roll out of the online National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests next year, some Tamworth schools have been chosen to participate in a trial of the test.

Calrossy Anglican School is one of them, with students in years three, five, seven and nine to get a taste of the new testing method in September.

According to school principal David Smith, there are many benefits to switching the test online, including the timeframe to receive test results.

Students sat the 2017 NAPLAN tests in May this year, however results are not expected to be released until August.

A group of teachers from schools across the district underwent NAPLAN test training in Tamworth last week, which Mr Smith said was “well received by Calrossy staff”.

“The NSW Education Standards Authority has been running training here in Tamworth not just for Calrossy but other schools in the different sectors,” he said.

“There’s some significant changes, what they’re wanting to do is to do it online.

“Instead of being set days, or set tests, there will be a window of nine days next year.”

Mr Smith said along with the benefits of the move online there were also some challenges.

“The flexibility is if a child is away on a certain day or gets sick in the middle of a test there is still a time basis,” he said.

“Online has some challenges, you have to have the bandwidth and the technological backbone at the school to do it and this is why they’re actually going to test it.

“In September we are going to do a full test with all of our current year three, five, seven and nine students to go through a trial.

“We’ve put our hands up to be a part of that.”

Mr Smith said a quicker turnaround of results would allow teachers to analyse their students’ scores quicker and alter their teaching methods and approaches for the future.

“One of the benefits of doing it online is the results will come back much, much quicker,” he said.

“This year we did the tests in May and the results haven’t come back yet, they’re due to come back in early August.

“If they’re meant to be a diagnostic test to help us understand the strengths and weaknesses that’s a long time (to receive results).

“The Education Standards Authority are saying it will be a month turnaround now to get results (under the online testing), so that’s good.”