England’s Lead in International Reading, Maths, and Science Rankings
England has shown significant improvement in reading, maths, and science rankings according to the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) data released 13 minutes ago.
The latest Pisa report reveals a notable trend: while all UK nations saw an uptick in science scores, England stands alone in its advancements, widening the gap with Scotland and Wales.
In contrast, reading and maths scores dropped in every UK nation except England. The report also highlights a global decline in teenagers’ reading skills, attributing it to the rise of AI and the need for critical thinking.
Global Reading Skills Decline
The Pisa tests, conducted every three years by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), assess problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills in 15-year-olds from 91 countries.
A concerning trend revealed by the report is the almost doubling of "hasty readers" between 2018 and 2025, with the greatest decrease observed among teenagers from relatively affluent families.
UK Results Vary Significantly
Despite the UK’s overall strong performance, rankings vary widely between the home nations. England, with its distinct curriculum, consistently outperforms Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
Georgia Gould, England’s schools minister, expressed ambition to build on these positive results and ensure all young people leave school with robust literacy and numeracy skills.
Laura Trott, England’s shadow education secretary, attributed the successes to previous reforms and criticized the new government’s efforts to undermine them.
In Wales, concerns are heightened as the nation falls further behind in international school assessments, with primary teachers being hired to teach secondary pupils to read.
