Scotland performed significantly above the OECD average in
science, reading, computational problem-solving and environmental
science, according to the latest international assessment of
15-year-olds' knowledge and skills.
The 2025 PISA study found that Scotland has held a competitive
international position, as reading and maths have declined across
the OECD as a whole. Scotland's maths performance was similar to
the OECD average and similar to the 2022 survey.
The PISA 2025 Scotland Report also found:
- the relationship between pupils' socio-economic background
and performance was weaker than in 2022 in science and maths, and
significantly weaker in reading than in every previous PISA cycle
- young people have a positive attitude to school and feel they
belong there, with 90% saying their science teacher helped them
in every or most lessons, and gave extra help when needed
- Scotland's overall performance was stable, while many other
countries saw decline
Education Secretary MÃ iri McAllan said:
PISA 2025 shows real strengths in Scottish education, as well as
areas we're already working to improve. The Curriculum
Improvement Cycle is the largest change to Scotland's curriculum
in over ten years, which will be fully rolled out with the
teaching profession by August 2028.
These results demonstrate that Scotland's education system is
competitive by international standards, performing above the OECD
average on four measures out of five. Scotland has stabilised its
international performance, which is very welcome, alongside the
significant weakening in the relationship between learners'
socio-economic background and performance, particularly in
reading. This comes just weeks after this year's Qualifications
Scotland results, which showed a narrowing of the poverty-related
attainment gap compared to both 2025 and pre-pandemic 2019, and
increased pass rates at National 5, Highers and Advanced Highers.
While recognising the positives, these results also underline the
need for change in certain areas change that I intend to lead in
the coming period to ensure excellence and equity for all
Scotland's young people."
Background
PISA is an international assessment of 15-year-olds' knowledge
and skills. Scotland has taken part in every cycle of the study
since 2000. PISA is based on a sample of pupils, not every pupil,
so small differences in scores may not be meaningful.
Scotland PISA 2025
Report will be available at 08:30, 8 September 2026.
The Education Secretary set out the Government's priorities for
education on 2 September. As part of the Curriculum Improvement
Cycle co-design process, Education Scotland has
shared early draft samples of
the new curriculum with local councils, so that educators can see
how the work is progressing.
