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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UK schools slip down global table | UK schools slip down global table |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| UK secondary school students have slipped down an international league table of reading and maths standards. | UK secondary school students have slipped down an international league table of reading and maths standards. |
| Compared with tests taken in 2000, the UK has dropped out of its top 10 positions for both subjects. | Compared with tests taken in 2000, the UK has dropped out of its top 10 positions for both subjects. |
| The most successful countries in reading are South Korea and Finland and teenagers in Taiwan and Finland are the highest achievers in maths. | The most successful countries in reading are South Korea and Finland and teenagers in Taiwan and Finland are the highest achievers in maths. |
| The international study is produced by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. | The international study is produced by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. |
| These Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) performance tables, based on tests taken by 15-year-olds, are published every three years - but the UK did not participate in the last round of tests, taken in 2003. | These Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) performance tables, based on tests taken by 15-year-olds, are published every three years - but the UK did not participate in the last round of tests, taken in 2003. |
| Downwards | Downwards |
| Comparisons instead are made with the UK's ranking positions based on tests taken in 2000. | Comparisons instead are made with the UK's ranking positions based on tests taken in 2000. |
| READING TOP 10 S. KoreaFinlandHong KongCanadaNew ZealandIrelandAustraliaLiechtensteinPolandSweden Source: Pisa/OECD Rankings in full | READING TOP 10 S. KoreaFinlandHong KongCanadaNew ZealandIrelandAustraliaLiechtensteinPolandSweden Source: Pisa/OECD Rankings in full |
| Last week, figures from the Pisa study showed that the UK had tumbled down the league table for school science. | Last week, figures from the Pisa study showed that the UK had tumbled down the league table for school science. |
| And the latest report shows that the UK's performance has also declined in both reading and maths against international competitors - going from above-average to average. | And the latest report shows that the UK's performance has also declined in both reading and maths against international competitors - going from above-average to average. |
| It is the only country which was in the top-performing group in 2000 to have slipped down into the lower group. | It is the only country which was in the top-performing group in 2000 to have slipped down into the lower group. |
| In 2000, the UK was placed eighth in maths and seventh in reading - the UK in the latest table is in 24th place for maths and 17th for literacy. | In 2000, the UK was placed eighth in maths and seventh in reading - the UK in the latest table is in 24th place for maths and 17th for literacy. |
| The countries which were ahead of the UK in reading in 2000 - Finland, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Korea - remain in the top 10 for this year. | The countries which were ahead of the UK in reading in 2000 - Finland, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Korea - remain in the top 10 for this year. |
| But the UK has now been overtaken by countries including Poland, Sweden, the Netherlands and Japan. | But the UK has now been overtaken by countries including Poland, Sweden, the Netherlands and Japan. |
| Overtaken | Overtaken |
| In maths, the UK has been overtaken by a group of improved performers, including Slovenia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and Austria. | In maths, the UK has been overtaken by a group of improved performers, including Slovenia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and Austria. |
| MATHS TOP 10 TaiwanFinlandHong KongS.KoreaNetherlandsSwitzerlandCanadaMacao-ChinaLiechtensteinJapan Source: Pisa/OECD Rankings in full | MATHS TOP 10 TaiwanFinlandHong KongS.KoreaNetherlandsSwitzerlandCanadaMacao-ChinaLiechtensteinJapan Source: Pisa/OECD Rankings in full |
| The Pisa rankings, based on tests taken by 400,000 students in 57 countries, is an attempt to measure the attainment of pupils in different education systems. The tables being published now are based on tests taken by pupils in 2006. | |
| This is the latest in a series of international education tables - in an increasing trend to assess performance against other countries, rather than only using national benchmarks. | This is the latest in a series of international education tables - in an increasing trend to assess performance against other countries, rather than only using national benchmarks. |
| This has not brought much positive news for the government. | This has not brought much positive news for the government. |
| Last week's leaked Pisa science report showed a decline for the UK. | Last week's leaked Pisa science report showed a decline for the UK. |
| And the reading performance of 10-year-old children in England has fallen from third to 19th, according to the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study. | And the reading performance of 10-year-old children in England has fallen from third to 19th, according to the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study. |
| An accompanying survey found high levels of concern about safety in school from pupils in England. | An accompanying survey found high levels of concern about safety in school from pupils in England. |
| Responding to the Pisa reports on science, reading and maths, the Schools Minister Jim Knight said that the science results showed that the UK remained above average. | Responding to the Pisa reports on science, reading and maths, the Schools Minister Jim Knight said that the science results showed that the UK remained above average. |
| And for maths and reading, he promised greater efforts to intervene when pupils are struggling. | And for maths and reading, he promised greater efforts to intervene when pupils are struggling. |
| "We are putting a relentless focus on the progress of every individual through programmes such as Every Child Counts and personalised learning so that we know exactly where progress is made and where children are falling behind," said Mr Knight. | "We are putting a relentless focus on the progress of every individual through programmes such as Every Child Counts and personalised learning so that we know exactly where progress is made and where children are falling behind," said Mr Knight. |