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| Scottish schools drop in world rankings | Scottish schools drop in world rankings |
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| Scotland's schools have recorded their worst ever performance in an international survey of pupils. | Scotland's schools have recorded their worst ever performance in an international survey of pupils. |
| Scotland's scores for maths, reading and science all declined in the latest set of Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) figures. | Scotland's scores for maths, reading and science all declined in the latest set of Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) figures. |
| It was the first time since the tests began in 2000 that all three subject areas were classed as "average", with none "above average". | It was the first time since the tests began in 2000 that all three subject areas were classed as "average", with none "above average". |
| Education Secretary John Swinney said the results made uncomfortable reading. | Education Secretary John Swinney said the results made uncomfortable reading. |
| He said they showed that "radical reform" was needed if Scotland's education system was to become world-class again. | He said they showed that "radical reform" was needed if Scotland's education system was to become world-class again. |
| Opposition parties said the results showed a "decade of educational failure" under the SNP government, with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon previously saying she wanted to be judged on her record on education. | Opposition parties said the results showed a "decade of educational failure" under the SNP government, with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon previously saying she wanted to be judged on her record on education. |
| Teachers called for a "period of stability" following the results, which saw Scotland fall from "above average" in reading and science to "average". | Teachers called for a "period of stability" following the results, which saw Scotland fall from "above average" in reading and science to "average". |
| The Pisa testing system was set up in 2000 among countries from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). | The Pisa testing system was set up in 2000 among countries from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). |
| Half a million 15-year-olds took part in the latest round of tests, which cover literacy, numeracy and science, in March 2015. | Half a million 15-year-olds took part in the latest round of tests, which cover literacy, numeracy and science, in March 2015. |
| Scotland's scores in the latest tests were lower in all three areas than they had been in any previous Pisa survey, with the country's ranking for science dropping from "above average" to "average", while maths and reading both remained "average". | Scotland's scores in the latest tests were lower in all three areas than they had been in any previous Pisa survey, with the country's ranking for science dropping from "above average" to "average", while maths and reading both remained "average". |
| While Scotland remains within the statistical average for the OECD, its relative position against some overseas countries and some other UK administrations has slipped, with the number of countries recording better scores in each subject increasing and the number recording worse scores falling. | While Scotland remains within the statistical average for the OECD, its relative position against some overseas countries and some other UK administrations has slipped, with the number of countries recording better scores in each subject increasing and the number recording worse scores falling. |
| In maths, only five countries had better scores in 2000, and 21 countries had worse. | In maths, only five countries had better scores in 2000, and 21 countries had worse. |
| By 2015, 14 countries recorded better results, while the number with worse scores was down to 10. | By 2015, 14 countries recorded better results, while the number with worse scores was down to 10. |
| The comparison with other parts of the UK suggest that English pupils were "significantly above" Scots in science while Welsh schools performed "significantly below Scotland" in each topic. | The comparison with other parts of the UK suggest that English pupils were "significantly above" Scots in science while Welsh schools performed "significantly below Scotland" in each topic. |
| Mr Swinney, who will make a ministerial statement at Holyrood on the results on Tuesday afternoon, pledged an "unwavering focus on improvement". | Mr Swinney, who will make a ministerial statement at Holyrood on the results on Tuesday afternoon, pledged an "unwavering focus on improvement". |
| He said: "There is great strength in Scottish education but these results underline the case for radical reform of Scotland's education system. | He said: "There is great strength in Scottish education but these results underline the case for radical reform of Scotland's education system. |
| "The results undoubtedly make uncomfortable reading but they contain a plain message: we must continue to make the changes that are necessary to strengthen Scottish education. | "The results undoubtedly make uncomfortable reading but they contain a plain message: we must continue to make the changes that are necessary to strengthen Scottish education. |
| "We must recognise that while Pisa is only now being published, it dates from the period in which our own statistics on literacy and numeracy were published and prompted our current programme of reform. Both sets of figures tell us the same thing. Reform is essential. | "We must recognise that while Pisa is only now being published, it dates from the period in which our own statistics on literacy and numeracy were published and prompted our current programme of reform. Both sets of figures tell us the same thing. Reform is essential. |
| "That is why last year we launched a comprehensive programme of reform, based firmly on the independent findings of the 2015 OECD review of Scottish education. It is by carrying through on these reforms - no matter how controversial - that we can make Scottish education world-class again." | "That is why last year we launched a comprehensive programme of reform, based firmly on the independent findings of the 2015 OECD review of Scottish education. It is by carrying through on these reforms - no matter how controversial - that we can make Scottish education world-class again." |
| Recent years have seen the Curriculum for Excellence introduced in Scottish schools, and the country's qualifications system overhauled. | Recent years have seen the Curriculum for Excellence introduced in Scottish schools, and the country's qualifications system overhauled. |
| Scottish Secondary Teachers Association president Euan Duncan said the changes had "added tremendously to the pressure on teachers and youngsters". | Scottish Secondary Teachers Association president Euan Duncan said the changes had "added tremendously to the pressure on teachers and youngsters". |
| He said: "Furthermore, reductions in support staff and shortages of supply teachers have taken teachers away from their core function. | He said: "Furthermore, reductions in support staff and shortages of supply teachers have taken teachers away from their core function. |
| "There is no magic solution to improving the downward Pisa performance trend, but good starting points would be to provide teachers with very clear aims and sufficient resources with which to achieve them." | "There is no magic solution to improving the downward Pisa performance trend, but good starting points would be to provide teachers with very clear aims and sufficient resources with which to achieve them." |
| 'Snap judgements' | 'Snap judgements' |
| But Scotland's largest teaching union, the EIS, warned against making "snap judgements" based on the Pisa figures, and said it was important to instead "analyse the full range of data it makes available". | But Scotland's largest teaching union, the EIS, warned against making "snap judgements" based on the Pisa figures, and said it was important to instead "analyse the full range of data it makes available". |
| Its general secretary, Larry Flanagan, added: "The need for continuing investment in education is made clear, however, by this report. | Its general secretary, Larry Flanagan, added: "The need for continuing investment in education is made clear, however, by this report. |
| "The Scottish government must ensure that schools are properly resourced and supported if we are to achieve the goals of tackling the poverty-related attainment gap and providing all young people with the chance to reach their potential." | "The Scottish government must ensure that schools are properly resourced and supported if we are to achieve the goals of tackling the poverty-related attainment gap and providing all young people with the chance to reach their potential." |
| Analysis by Jamie McIvor, BBC Scotland education correspondent | Analysis by Jamie McIvor, BBC Scotland education correspondent |
| Scotland is not a star pupil. The country's performance in the PISA assessments is distinctly average. A teacher writing a report card could easily say: "Disappointing performance. Could do better." | Scotland is not a star pupil. The country's performance in the PISA assessments is distinctly average. A teacher writing a report card could easily say: "Disappointing performance. Could do better." |
| The Pisa figures are not the last word on education. They are not a definitive measure. There are many critics. But because they are the nearest thing there is to a fair way of comparing the education systems of different countries they have a huge influence on policy and political debate. | The Pisa figures are not the last word on education. They are not a definitive measure. There are many critics. But because they are the nearest thing there is to a fair way of comparing the education systems of different countries they have a huge influence on policy and political debate. |
| One reason they make for such uncomfortable reading for the Scottish government, is that it wants to be judged by its success on education. It makes much of its commitment to raise attainment and narrow the gap between how well youngsters from relatively rich and poor areas do at school. | One reason they make for such uncomfortable reading for the Scottish government, is that it wants to be judged by its success on education. It makes much of its commitment to raise attainment and narrow the gap between how well youngsters from relatively rich and poor areas do at school. |
| The statistics may also provoke debate on how well Curriculum for Excellence is working in practice. Some in the teaching unions - which support C for E - have long made points about its implementation. Questions of workload, bureaucracy and stress come to the fore. | The statistics may also provoke debate on how well Curriculum for Excellence is working in practice. Some in the teaching unions - which support C for E - have long made points about its implementation. Questions of workload, bureaucracy and stress come to the fore. |
| For the Scottish government, the figures highlight why it believes more reforms are necessary. | For the Scottish government, the figures highlight why it believes more reforms are necessary. |
| Next year, standardised assessments in primary schools and the third year of secondary school will start to give more information about how well individual schools are performing. | Next year, standardised assessments in primary schools and the third year of secondary school will start to give more information about how well individual schools are performing. |
| The government also plans to give £100 million straight to headteachers to spend on schemes to raise attainment. It is also looking at school governance - what powers should lie with schools, councils and the proposed new regional education boards? | The government also plans to give £100 million straight to headteachers to spend on schemes to raise attainment. It is also looking at school governance - what powers should lie with schools, councils and the proposed new regional education boards? |
| Scottish Conservative education spokesman Liz Smith said the "shocking statistics" were a "damning indictment of a decade of failure under the SNP". | Scottish Conservative education spokesman Liz Smith said the "shocking statistics" were a "damning indictment of a decade of failure under the SNP". |
| She added: "The fact that the SNP has been so obsessed with independence has meant that it has taken its eye completely off the ball when it comes to education. | She added: "The fact that the SNP has been so obsessed with independence has meant that it has taken its eye completely off the ball when it comes to education. |
| "Nicola Sturgeon says she wants to be judged by her performance on education but parents will rightly wonder what on earth her Scottish government has been doing for the last 10 years. | "Nicola Sturgeon says she wants to be judged by her performance on education but parents will rightly wonder what on earth her Scottish government has been doing for the last 10 years. |
| "Children going through our schools under the SNP are finishing their school careers less equipped in basic skills and performing less well than their counterparts elsewhere in the UK, and in a host of other countries across the world." | "Children going through our schools under the SNP are finishing their school careers less equipped in basic skills and performing less well than their counterparts elsewhere in the UK, and in a host of other countries across the world." |
| 'Going backwards' | 'Going backwards' |
| Scottish Labour said Scotland's OECD rank in reading had gone from 6th in 2000 to 23rd in 2015, from 9th in mathematics in 2003 to 24th in 2015 and from 10th in science in 2006 to 19th. | Scottish Labour said Scotland's OECD rank in reading had gone from 6th in 2000 to 23rd in 2015, from 9th in mathematics in 2003 to 24th in 2015 and from 10th in science in 2006 to 19th. |
| The party's education spokesman Iain Gray said: "SNP ministers should be ashamed of these results. For all their warm words about making education a priority we are seeing performance going backwards as Scotland drops down international league tables." | The party's education spokesman Iain Gray said: "SNP ministers should be ashamed of these results. For all their warm words about making education a priority we are seeing performance going backwards as Scotland drops down international league tables." |
| Ross Greer of the Scottish Greens said: "This drop in performance is clearly a concern. We need to listen to teachers and invest in what they know will make a difference - namely more staff and a simplified workload following years of changes, so that they have more time to connect with their students." | Ross Greer of the Scottish Greens said: "This drop in performance is clearly a concern. We need to listen to teachers and invest in what they know will make a difference - namely more staff and a simplified workload following years of changes, so that they have more time to connect with their students." |
| And Tavish Scott of the Lib Dems said there was "no escaping the fact that surveys show the SNP have overseen a worrying decline in our education system". | |
| Meanwhile Keir Bloomer, of think tank Reform Scotland and chair of the Commission on School Reform, said the education system was now in urgent need of action. | Meanwhile Keir Bloomer, of think tank Reform Scotland and chair of the Commission on School Reform, said the education system was now in urgent need of action. |
| He said: "It is no longer credible to describe Scotland's education system as world leading. | He said: "It is no longer credible to describe Scotland's education system as world leading. |
| "There is a critical and urgent need to examine how Scottish education is run, and the Scottish government's stated intention to empower teachers, parents and schools must be matched by action." | "There is a critical and urgent need to examine how Scottish education is run, and the Scottish government's stated intention to empower teachers, parents and schools must be matched by action." |