Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)

The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) assesses the knowledge and skills in mathematics, reading and science of 15-year-old pupils in countries around the world.

PISA is run by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and assessment is typically undertaken every 3 years, to chart how performance changes over time and across different education systems. PISA 2022, which was undertaken 4 years after the previous cycle due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, involved 81 education systems, including England. In England, 4,763 15-year-old pupils from 165 schools completed a 2-hour computer based assessment and pupil questionnaire. Headteachers at participating schools were also asked to complete a school questionnaire. The study was carried out in November and December 2022, with most of those pupils who participated completing their GCSE exams in 2023. This report analyses their performance in the three subject domains of mathematics, reading and science, as well as their responses to the pupil questionnaire, and their headteachers’ responses to the school questionnaire. When reading this report, it is important to keep in mind that England’s sample of participating pupils may not be entirely representative of all 15-year-old pupils in England.

• In maths: English pupils’ average score was scored 492, significantly abovethe 472 OECD average – although lower than the 504 in 2018. Just 8 countries had significantly better scores
• In reading: the average score was496, significantly above the average of 476 but lower than the 505 in 2018. England’s score was similar to between 2006 and 2015, while the OECD trend average declined
• In science: the average score was 503, significantly higherthan the 485 OECD average – and just two points lower than in 2018. However this marks a continued downward trend in science, falling from 512 in 2015.

The mean performance across all OECD countries fell by 10 points in reading and by almost 15 points in maths, England is performing above average and has risen up the ranks in recent years. It also appears to perform better than other UK countries, which have taken different approaches to reform.