From MoneyWeek · · 1m 50s
British schools are a success story
UK students rank in the global top ten for reading, maths and science, bucking a worldwide trend of declining results.
In brief
UK students rank in the global top ten for reading, maths and science, bucking a worldwide trend of declining results. England's focus on core knowledge, behaviour, assessment and phonics is delivering world-class results while most other countries fall behind. Originally reported by MoneyWeek.
UK cracks the global top ten
For the first time, the UK ranked in the top ten globally across reading, maths and science in the OECD's 2025 PISA assessment. England sits eighth overall, behind only Estonia among Western nations.
Most countries are falling behind
While the UK held steady, results declined in nearly every other nation. Experts point to pandemic effects, screen distraction and hasty reading habits as culprits.
“Staying still, in the face of headwinds, while nearly everyone else drops back precipitously, is still an achievement.”
England pulls away from peers
England now significantly outperforms Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. The gap with Western Europe has grown dramatically in a decade, with England's poorest students outperforming average pupils in Germany and France.
“The overall gap has gone from nothing to significant in a decade.”
Decades of consistent policy
Success traces back to Kenneth Baker's national curriculum in 1988, expanded by Blair governments in the 1990s and 2000s, then supercharged by Michael Gove as education secretary under the coalition.
Core knowledge model works
England's strategy emphasises core knowledge, behaviour standards, high-stakes assessment, synthetic phonics and professional development. Critics call it rote-learning, but PISA results prove it builds critical thinking.
Less screen time helps
England has a more sceptical attitude toward classroom screen-learning and smartphones than most European countries, reducing digital distraction that harms concentration and reading skills elsewhere.
Immigrants thrive in England
In England, immigrant students outperform non-immigrants, whereas in France and Germany they lag behind. This reflects superior integration of new arrivals into the school system.
Labour risks copying Scotland
Education secretary Lucy Powell wants to replace the exam-focused model with a broader curriculum and more coursework. But Scotland tried this approach and fell far behind England as a result.
“Her way was pioneered by Scotland, and it leads over a cliff.”
What to remember
England's focus on core knowledge, behaviour, assessment and phonics is delivering world-class results while most other countries fall behind.
