The latest global study of education performance across more than
eighty countries reveals Scotland has maintained its
international standing.
The 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)
study shows that in Scotland performance in reading was above the
OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development)
average, with results in maths and science in line with the
average.
These results reflect the cohort of young people who experienced
unprecedented disruption to their education as a result of school
closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The PISA 2022 results for Scotland show:
- reading performance was above the OECD average and higher
than 24 other countries
- maths was similar to the OECD average
- science performance was similar to the OECD average
Education Secretary said:
“As is well understood, the Covid-19 pandemic has had a profound
impact on our young people and their experience of learning and
teaching. PISA demonstrates this impact across the majority of
countries participating. Whilst every country in the UK has seen
a reduction in its PISA scores across maths and reading between
2018 and 2022, there will be key learning for the Scottish
Government and COSLA to address jointly in responding.
“Since PISA was conducted, wider evidence from both the 2023
national qualification results and the most recent literacy and
numeracy data for primary, show clear evidence of an ongoing
recovery which we are determined to build on. Our participation
in PISA provides valuable information to support educational
improvement; that will be further strengthened by our decision
earlier this year to re-join the Trends in International
Mathematics and Science (TIMS) and Progress in International
Reading Literacy (PIRLs) studies.
“I will provide Parliament with a full update next week,
reflecting on both PISA and the 2023 national literacy and
numeracy data, which is based on teacher judgement.”
Background
The OECD will publish the Programme International Student
Assessment (PISA) study on Tuesday 5 December at 10am. Media can
register for access to this publication, under Tuesday embargo,
via Media advisory - PISA 2022
- OECD
A Scottish Government statistical news release and summary report
of Scottish findings will publish on the Scottish Government
website on Tuesday 5 December at around 10am.
The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is an
assessment of 15 year-olds’ skills in mathematics, reading and
science. Eighty-one countries and around 690,000 students
participated in PISA 2022. All four nations of the UK
participated. The survey was carried out in Scotland between 18
October and 22 December 2022, with around 3,300 students across
117 schools taking part.
The 2021/22 Achievement of
Curriculum for Excellence (ACEL) data showed a single year
record increase in the proportion of primary school pupils
achieving the expected levels of literacy and numeracy.
The 2022/23 Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence (ACEL) data
will be published on 12 December 2023.
In 2023 overall pass rates for National 5, Highers and Advanced
Highers were above those pre-pandemic in 2019.
