England’s secondary school pupils have risen up the international rankings for their attainment in maths, reading and science. However, the latest Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results shows a gender gap has opened up in science, with boys outperforming girls. The OECD has today published its PISA league tables, comparing countries across the globe on their 15-year-olds’ attainment in maths, reading and science. Released every three years, the results published today are based on assessments sat by thousands of children last year. Here’s your usual Schools Week round-up … 1. Scores on the doors In maths: English pupils’ average score stood at 492, significantly above the OECD average of 463. The national figure was the same as the one registered in 2022. Nine countries had significantly better scores. In reading: the average score was 497, slightly above the figure recorded in 2022 (496). The OECD average stood at 461. Only three countries performed significantly better. In science: England managed a score of 516, up on 2022 levels (503) and significantly above the OECD average (482). This has halted a downward trend for science in this country which started in 2015. For context: The mean performance across all OECD countries fell by 14 points in reading and 10 points in maths. England’s scores in the three subjects were “significantly above” those for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 2. Into the top 10 The average performance in reading and maths fell “significantly” across OECD countries since 2022. However, it remained broadly the same in science. Despite this, England improved its position in the PISA rankings for each of the subjects. In maths, England moved up a place into tenth spot in the international league table. It was joint ninth for reading, up from 13th in 2022, and rose to eighth for science, having been 13th last time around. National Association of Headteachers general secretary Paul Whiteman said the results are “an opportunity to celebrate the excellent work taking place in England’s schools, at times, seemingly against the odds”. 3. … but beware comparisons However, the findings once again come with a caveat. Researchers have warned that the sample of 5,619 pupils – across 183 schools – who took part in the Pisa study “may not be entirely representative of all 15-year-old pupils in England”. Analysis suggested the “final set of participating schools was highly representative of the national distribution of schools in terms of several school-level characteristics”. But the pupils who didn’t respond were “slightly more likely” to speak English as a first language, to have been eligible for free school meals in the last six years and to receive a form of special educational needs support. “Both for England and for other participating countries, this means that results should be interpreted cautiously, particularly when considering trends in performance over time and when making international comparisons,” the report said. 4. The science gender gap The results show “a significant gender gap” in science, with boys outperforming girls by 13 points. This represents “a significant change” from the last three PISA cycles, which showed no significant difference in performance between the genders. In maths, the gap remained was “not significantly different” from the one recorded in 2022, with boys scoring 504 on average, compared to 478 for girls. Meanwhile, girls continued to “significantly” outperform boys in reading, despite the gap narrowing from 23 points in 2015 to 11 points last year. 5. England’s disadvantage gap Unsurprisingly, the report found poorer children performed worse than those who are better off. The gap between the most- and least-disadvantaged groups of pupils in England stood at 89 for maths, 81 for science and 66 for reading. In maths and science, these ranges “were not significantly different from the average ranges across all OECD countries”. However, it “was significantly narrower” for reading. The gap has narrowed in science and reading since 2022 (nine and 16 points respectively). However, it has widened by four points in maths. 6. ‘Not standing still’ The Department for Education said the “strong” PISA performance gives “a strong academic foundation to build from”. But they added that “strong results are not an argument for standing still”. “While England performs well compared to other countries, in reading and maths our children’s scores in PISA assessments haven’t improved in ten years. We don’t want to go up in the international league tables solely because other countries are declining. “Other countries have continued to improve despite the pandemic, while too many young people here are still being left behind. We should build on England’s strengths while learning from the best international evidence.” They pointed to Estonia which “shows academic and vocational excellence can co-exist”. It scored 510 in maths, 511 in reading and 526 in science in PISA 2022, while around 25 per cent of upper-secondary students are enrolled in vocational education, the DfE added. Schools minister Georgia Gould said: “We are determined to build on these positive results and go further so all young people leave school with strong literacy and numeracy. “Our reforms will build on England’s strong academic foundations so future generations not only perform well, but feel connected to school and excited about where their education can take them.”