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| UK schools fail to climb international league table UK schools fail to climb international league table | |
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| The government’s ambition to make Britain’s schools among the best in the world in teaching core subjects by 2020 appears to have been foiled, after international comparisons published on Tuesday showed few signs of improvement. | The government’s ambition to make Britain’s schools among the best in the world in teaching core subjects by 2020 appears to have been foiled, after international comparisons published on Tuesday showed few signs of improvement. |
| The OECD’s programme for international student assessment (Pisa) found a little-changed performance in reading, maths and science among 15- and 16-year-olds in England – but good enough to make it the best performing UK nation after a sharp decline in Scotland’s performance. | The OECD’s programme for international student assessment (Pisa) found a little-changed performance in reading, maths and science among 15- and 16-year-olds in England – but good enough to make it the best performing UK nation after a sharp decline in Scotland’s performance. |
| In the 2015 election campaign, the Conservatives said they aimed to have England among the top countries in Europe by 2020 based on international rankings. But the steep improvement now required means the ambition is doomed after the latest results were almost identical to the OECD’s 2012 tests. | In the 2015 election campaign, the Conservatives said they aimed to have England among the top countries in Europe by 2020 based on international rankings. But the steep improvement now required means the ambition is doomed after the latest results were almost identical to the OECD’s 2012 tests. |
| The Pisa exams are administered to more than 500,000 pupils in the 70 countries that paid to take part, with the three subjects examined worldwide at the end of 2015. At the top of the table, Singapore replaced Shanghai for all three subjects tested, with Shanghai’s stellar maths effort in 2012 diluted by the addition of students from Beijing, Jiangsu and Guangdong this time, sending its results tumbling. | The Pisa exams are administered to more than 500,000 pupils in the 70 countries that paid to take part, with the three subjects examined worldwide at the end of 2015. At the top of the table, Singapore replaced Shanghai for all three subjects tested, with Shanghai’s stellar maths effort in 2012 diluted by the addition of students from Beijing, Jiangsu and Guangdong this time, sending its results tumbling. |
| The UK’s combined ranking in science rose six places to 15th despite a slight fall in pupil performances, illustrating the fluctuations of the Pisa league tables and why education experts prefer to look at a country’s exam scores rather than international placings to gauge success. | The UK’s combined ranking in science rose six places to 15th despite a slight fall in pupil performances, illustrating the fluctuations of the Pisa league tables and why education experts prefer to look at a country’s exam scores rather than international placings to gauge success. |
| The UK’s maths ranking fell by one place to 27th but its reading position rose two places, although in both cases the actual scores were barely changed from 2012’s exam results. | The UK’s maths ranking fell by one place to 27th but its reading position rose two places, although in both cases the actual scores were barely changed from 2012’s exam results. |
| “For the UK as a whole this is not a bad result: essentially no change,” said Robert Coe, professor of education at Durham University. “Now that the political contexts of the education systems of the four UK nations are entirely separate, people will increasingly concentrate on the performance of those separate nations. | “For the UK as a whole this is not a bad result: essentially no change,” said Robert Coe, professor of education at Durham University. “Now that the political contexts of the education systems of the four UK nations are entirely separate, people will increasingly concentrate on the performance of those separate nations. |
| “All three measures place England, Scotland and Wales in that order, and these gaps will no doubt be the focus of intense political attention and rivalry.” | “All three measures place England, Scotland and Wales in that order, and these gaps will no doubt be the focus of intense political attention and rivalry.” |
| While Shanghai’s demise meant that the gap between the UK and the top of the table closed dramatically, the static results make it almost impossible for the British government to realise its aim in the 2015 Conservative manifesto “to make Britain the best place in the world to study maths, science and engineering, measured by improved performance in the Pisa league tables”. | While Shanghai’s demise meant that the gap between the UK and the top of the table closed dramatically, the static results make it almost impossible for the British government to realise its aim in the 2015 Conservative manifesto “to make Britain the best place in the world to study maths, science and engineering, measured by improved performance in the Pisa league tables”. |
| Nicky Morgan, the then education secretary, also said during the election campaign that England’s schools were to be “the best in Europe for literacy and maths by 2020”. | Nicky Morgan, the then education secretary, also said during the election campaign that England’s schools were to be “the best in Europe for literacy and maths by 2020”. |
| The 2015 results place the UK among a group of similar European countries including France and Spain, and behind leading lights such as Finland – again the best in Europe – Estonia, Ireland and Germany. | The 2015 results place the UK among a group of similar European countries including France and Spain, and behind leading lights such as Finland – again the best in Europe – Estonia, Ireland and Germany. |
| But ministers in London may be buoyed by England’s better performance compared with the three other home nations. Scotland in particular suffered a poor set of results, with substantial falls in reading and science compounded by a fall in maths. | But ministers in London may be buoyed by England’s better performance compared with the three other home nations. Scotland in particular suffered a poor set of results, with substantial falls in reading and science compounded by a fall in maths. |
| England scored 500 in reading and 493 in maths, while Scotland dipped to 493 in reading and 491 in maths, a fall of 13 and seven points respectively from 2012. | England scored 500 in reading and 493 in maths, while Scotland dipped to 493 in reading and 491 in maths, a fall of 13 and seven points respectively from 2012. |
| Scotland’s surprisingly weak results left England as the highest scoring UK nation in both science and reading, and tied with Northern Ireland for the best result in maths. | Scotland’s surprisingly weak results left England as the highest scoring UK nation in both science and reading, and tied with Northern Ireland for the best result in maths. |
| Labour’s Scottish education spokesman, Iain Gray, said the SNP should be ashamed by the results. “These are terrible results after 10 years of SNP government. They must wake up to the fact that their cuts to school budgets, teachers numbers and support staff are damaging the life chances of Scotland’s children,” Gray said. | |
| John Swinney, the Scottish education secretary, admitted the Pisa results “undoubtedly make uncomfortable reading” but said its findings underlined the “plain message” that the sweeping reforms of school education he is rolling out were needed. | |
| Those would include detailed attainment measures for each school – attacked by critics as new league tables, and devolving control to schools and communities. “It is by carrying through on these reforms – no matter how controversial – that we can make Scottish education world-class again,” Swinney said. | |
| Wales also lost ground in science and reading. There was better news for reformers in Cardiff with a substantial improvement in maths scores. However, Wales alone of the UK nations fell below the OECD average in all three subjects. | Wales also lost ground in science and reading. There was better news for reformers in Cardiff with a substantial improvement in maths scores. However, Wales alone of the UK nations fell below the OECD average in all three subjects. |
| Kirsty Williams, Wales’ education secretary, said the advice she had received from a recent OECD report was to press on with the government’s school reforms. | Kirsty Williams, Wales’ education secretary, said the advice she had received from a recent OECD report was to press on with the government’s school reforms. |
| “Pisa may divide opinion but it is the recognised international benchmark for skills. It has never been more important to demonstrate to ourselves, and to the world, that our young people can compete with the best,” Williams said. | “Pisa may divide opinion but it is the recognised international benchmark for skills. It has never been more important to demonstrate to ourselves, and to the world, that our young people can compete with the best,” Williams said. |
| “Other small, innovative nations have stolen a march on us in their reform journeys. But if Ireland and Estonia can do it, so can we.” | “Other small, innovative nations have stolen a march on us in their reform journeys. But if Ireland and Estonia can do it, so can we.” |
| Nick Gibb, the schools minister for England, said more grammar schools could boost future Pisa results for England: “We know that grammar schools provide a good education for their disadvantaged pupils, which is why we want more pupils from lower income backgrounds to benefit from them.” | Nick Gibb, the schools minister for England, said more grammar schools could boost future Pisa results for England: “We know that grammar schools provide a good education for their disadvantaged pupils, which is why we want more pupils from lower income backgrounds to benefit from them.” |
| But Gibbs’ view was disputed by Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, who said Pisa offered “strong evidence” that early selection of pupils by schools did not narrow gaps in attainment. | But Gibbs’ view was disputed by Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, who said Pisa offered “strong evidence” that early selection of pupils by schools did not narrow gaps in attainment. |
| “Any government serious about evidence-based policy must address this finding,” Hobby said. | “Any government serious about evidence-based policy must address this finding,” Hobby said. |
| Singapore’s success, topping all three tables in mathematics, reading and science, has been seized on by enthusiasts of the “mastery” approach to maths, deployed to great success in Singapore and east Asian countries at the top of the OECD tables and in other recent international maths tests. | Singapore’s success, topping all three tables in mathematics, reading and science, has been seized on by enthusiasts of the “mastery” approach to maths, deployed to great success in Singapore and east Asian countries at the top of the OECD tables and in other recent international maths tests. |
| The mastery approach aims to deepen pupils’ conceptual understanding of mathematical concepts, covering fewer topics but in greater depth. | The mastery approach aims to deepen pupils’ conceptual understanding of mathematical concepts, covering fewer topics but in greater depth. |
| The UK government has developed a teacher exchange programme with Shanghai and wants to roll out the mastery method in England’s classrooms. So far, more than 360 schools have implemented the programme, reaching 3,000 teachers and almost 100,000 primary and secondary pupils. | The UK government has developed a teacher exchange programme with Shanghai and wants to roll out the mastery method in England’s classrooms. So far, more than 360 schools have implemented the programme, reaching 3,000 teachers and almost 100,000 primary and secondary pupils. |
| Helen Drury, executive director of the mathematics mastery development programme, said the UK remained in “a frustratingly average position” in the Pisa tables but the results were a reminder of what can be learned from high performing countries. | Helen Drury, executive director of the mathematics mastery development programme, said the UK remained in “a frustratingly average position” in the Pisa tables but the results were a reminder of what can be learned from high performing countries. |
| British teachers should be given time for high-quality professional development throughout their career, as is standard in Singapore and Shanghai, Drury said. | British teachers should be given time for high-quality professional development throughout their career, as is standard in Singapore and Shanghai, Drury said. |
| Details from the report showed a high percentage of head teachers in the UK complained about staff shortages, while truancy was higher than many other OECD countries. | Details from the report showed a high percentage of head teachers in the UK complained about staff shortages, while truancy was higher than many other OECD countries. |
| Why do you think schools in some areas perform better than others? In the UK, England performs better than Scotland and Wales, and in Europe, Finland, Estonia, Ireland and Germany lead the top of the table with their results. | |
| Share your views in the form or in the comments below. | |
| Sample Pisa exam questions – science | Sample Pisa exam questions – science |
| Q: Most migratory birds gather in one area and then migrate in large groups rather than individually. This behaviour is a result of evolution. Which of the following is the best scientific explanation for the evolution of this behaviour in most migratory birds? | Q: Most migratory birds gather in one area and then migrate in large groups rather than individually. This behaviour is a result of evolution. Which of the following is the best scientific explanation for the evolution of this behaviour in most migratory birds? |
| A: Birds that migrated individually or in small groups were less likely to survive and have offspring. | A: Birds that migrated individually or in small groups were less likely to survive and have offspring. |
| B: Birds that migrated individually or in small groups were more likely to find adequate food. | B: Birds that migrated individually or in small groups were more likely to find adequate food. |
| C: Flying in large groups allowed other bird species to join the migration. | C: Flying in large groups allowed other bird species to join the migration. |
| D: Flying in large groups allowed each bird to have a better chance of finding a nesting site. | D: Flying in large groups allowed each bird to have a better chance of finding a nesting site. |
| [answer: A] | [answer: A] |
| Q: Rocks in space that enter Earth’s atmosphere are called meteoroids. Meteoroids heat up, and glow as they fall through Earth’s atmosphere. Most meteoroids burn up before they hit Earth’s surface. When a meteoroid hits Earth it can make a hole called a crater. | Q: Rocks in space that enter Earth’s atmosphere are called meteoroids. Meteoroids heat up, and glow as they fall through Earth’s atmosphere. Most meteoroids burn up before they hit Earth’s surface. When a meteoroid hits Earth it can make a hole called a crater. |
| As a meteoroid approaches Earth and its atmosphere, it speeds up. Why does this happen? | As a meteoroid approaches Earth and its atmosphere, it speeds up. Why does this happen? |
| A: The meteoroid is pulled in by the rotation of Earth. | A: The meteoroid is pulled in by the rotation of Earth. |
| B: The meteoroid is pushed by the light of the Sun. | B: The meteoroid is pushed by the light of the Sun. |
| C: The meteoroid is attracted to the mass of Earth. | C: The meteoroid is attracted to the mass of Earth. |
| D: The meteoroid is repelled by the vacuum of space. | D: The meteoroid is repelled by the vacuum of space. |
| [answer: C] | [answer: C] |