England's 15-year-olds have demonstrated stronger academic performance in maths, reading, and science when compared to their peers in most other countries, according to the latest Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
The survey, which tested 760,000 15-year-olds across 91 countries and regions last year, revealed a decline in results for almost all OECD member nations. England, however, was noted as an exception, maintaining a steady performance.
This steady performance contributed to the UK moving into the top 10 international rankings. While Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland recorded slightly lower results than in previous years, 15-year-olds in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland were found to be reading as well as they were in 2022. England's biggest improvement was in science, with its reading performance placing it ahead of countries like Australia, the US, Finland, and France.
The OECD's overall analysis highlighted a gloomy picture, noting that learning outcomes have stagnated or declined in many countries, in some cases for over a decade. The organisation specifically raised concerns about the international decline in reading scores, with average scores falling by double digits across OECD members since 2018. Analysts suggested that long-term declines indicate deeper structural issues within education systems, including changing attitudes towards reading, the impact of digital distractions, and rising absenteeism.
Andreas Schleicher, the OECD's director for education and skills, suggested that declining levels of reading for enjoyment and the shift towards digital reading, such as skimming social media feeds, may be compromising students' ability to engage with complex texts.