Did you know that St Columban’s College in Caboolture has recorded its highest-ever Yr 9 NAPLAN writing results, after introducing an AI-powered writing program across the school?
Background on St Columban’s Initiative
St Columban’s College in Caboolture integrated the Writer’s Toolbox AI program into its Digital Innovation Strategy, which equips every student and teacher with a laptop. The initiative began in 2020 after a review found the school’s writing results were below the national average. The goal was to lift student performance to meet or exceed national standards.
Measurable Improvement in NAPLAN Performance
The Writer’s Toolbox program, adopted across Year 9 and other levels, led to the highest writing score in the school’s 10 years of NAPLAN testing. In less than 12 months, the average Year 9 writing result increased by 24 points. In 2024, students wrote more than 3.7 million words using the platform, reflecting higher engagement and confidence in writing.
Statewide Pilot Results
St Columban’s was one of eight Brisbane Catholic Education schools in a pilot program using Writer’s Toolbox. Collectively, participating schools improved their NAPLAN writing results eight times faster than the Queensland state average. While the state’s combined writing score across all years tested rose from 486 in 2023 to 488 in 2024, pilot schools recorded an increase from 490 to 555 over the same period.
About the Writer’s Toolbox Program
Writer’s Toolbox was developed from 25 years of research by Associate Professor Ian Hunter, combining historical teaching methods with AI-driven personalised feedback. The program is fully differentiated, allowing students to progress at their own pace while enabling teachers to track performance in real time. Studies involving 71 Australian schools and 78,000 students showed writing improvement rates between two and ten times the Queensland average.
Impact on Students and Teachers
Students benefit from instant feedback and tailored challenges, while teachers gain tools to support varied learning needs. The program is designed to make writing practice consistent across all ability levels while maintaining individualised progression.
Future Outlook
Following the success of the pilot, schools including St Columban’s continue to use the AI program across year levels. The approach reflects a wider trend of integrating AI into classrooms, with schools weighing how best to balance technology with traditional teaching methods.
Published 13-Aug-2025
Photo Credit: Writer’s Toolbox
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