WALES has climbed slightly up the rankings in a global schools test, but has fallen behind in terms of achievement.

The Pisa tests, held once every three years compare ability across 72 different countries. The results from the 2015 test have just been revealed.

WHAT ARE PISA TESTS?

  • The tests are taken by 540,000 15-year-old pupils across 72 countries
  • Pisa stands for 'Programme for International Student Assessment'
  • They are run every three years by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
  • Tests are always in maths, reading and science
  • The tests examine the ability to use knowledge and do not require revision

WALES' PLACINGS FOR 2012 & 2015:

2012

Maths 43/68

Reading 41/68

Science 36/68

2015

Maths 39/71

Reading 40/71

Science 35/71

POINTS COMPARISON:

Where Wales stands compared to other UK countries:

SCIENCE
England      512
N Ireland    500
Scotland    497
Wales        485

READING
England     500
N Ireland   497
Scotland    493    
Wales        478

MATHS
England     493
N Ireland   493
Scotland    491        
Wales        478

The points comparison is between 2006 and 2015 as 2006 was the last time the tests were comparable when science was a main focus.

2006

Maths 484 (international average 494)

Science 505 (international average 498)

Reading 492 (international average 481)

2015

Maths 478 (international average 490)

Science 485 (international average 493)

Reading 477 (international average 493) 

Wales’ education secretary Kirsty Williams said the results were “not yet where we want to be”.

“While we have seen a 10 point lift in our maths score, the results for science are disappointing,” she said.

“Last month I invited the OECD to look at how we are doing in Wales. Their advice to me was unambiguous, stay the course, be brave, you are doing the right things.”

Although she said work to improve education in Wales was underway, she recognised much remained to be done.

“PISA may divide opinion, but it is the recognised international benchmark for skills,” she said.

“It has never been more important to demonstrate to ourselves and to the world that our young people can compete with the best.

“Old securities are on their way out.

“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.”

Ms Williams added, while there was a temptation to “rip up the plan and start again”, she did not believe this was an effective way forwards, saying: “”e owe it to our pupils, parents and the profession to do what is right.”

“The OECD has identified Portugal as a country that has much improved,” she said.

“It took them 14 years, pursuing reforms that work and holding steady to the course.

“They took the much needed tough decisions and now they reap the rewards.

“Wales will have the courage to do likewise to ensure that we deliver our national mission of education reform.”

REACTION

The First Minster Carwyn Jones admits that while the the Pisa results make "uncomfortable reading" he says what they will not do: "Is panic and throw everything up in the air when the (Pisa) advice we had says we should stay on this track."

He added: "Things are not how we would them to be. We were the government who went into PISA in the first place and we must accept that that is how our education system will be measured."

The leader of the Consrvatives Andrew RT Davies said: "You have said nothing to give us the confidence we will not be in the same position in three years time."

Responding to the PISA results, Rachel Curley Acting Director of teaching union ATL Cymru, said: "This is not the time for hand wringing or panic in response to the PISA results. It would have been naïve to expect major improvements since the last set of results four years ago.

"PISA is an important measure, but it is only one measure of Wales’ education system.

"Significant reforms are underway in Welsh education – from Initial Teacher Training, to assessment and accountability measures and wholescale curriculum reform. Systematic structural reform on this scale takes time to implement and we would urge Welsh government not to change direction or be distracted by today’s news.

"ATL Cymru members are now looking to Welsh government to provide support for education professionals, through a properly funded education system, investment in high quality Continuing Professional Development and urgent measures to tackle the workload crisis."

Meanwhile, Darren Millar AM, Welsh Conservative spokesman for education, said:

"Our children deserve a first class education system that is world-beating, but today's PISA rankings show that successive Welsh Labour Governments have failed to deliver one.

"In spite of all the tough talking and promises to do better from the First Minister, today's figures place us, yet again, in the bottom half of the global education league table and re-confirm Wales' status as the worst performing school system in the UK.

"That our results in 2015 were actually worse than in 2006 signifies a decade of underachievement and is a scandal of monumental proportions.

"Instead of downplaying the importance of these results for our young people and the future of the Welsh economy, the Cabinet Secretary must go back to the drawing board to develop a clear strategy with measurable targets that will turn this performance around - our children and our young people deserve nothing less."

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