UK Ranked Average In Education Ratings

The UK has been described as languishing in the middle of international education rankings, following the release of a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The report saw the UK fall four places in science to rank 20th out of 65 countries and regions.

In maths and reading the UK gained two places to reach 26th and 23rd overall.

Andreas Schleicher, the OECD's deputy director for education and skills and co-ordinator of the Pisa programme, said the educational reforms introduced in England since 2010 were not included.

"You are not going to see great surprises about the UK in this data," he said.

The report found that the UK had good results in terms of the attainment of immigrants, and a smaller gender gap than many other countries.

But its high proportion of low-achieving students held it back from appearing higher in the rankings.

The top two countries in terms of maths, reading and science were South Korea, followed by Japan. Switzerland and the Netherlands followed.

"The Pisa report is a big wake-up call," said Shadow Education Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

"Eastern dominance centres on the importance that these high-performing education systems place on the quality and status of the teaching profession as the central lever for driving up standards."

"This report exposes the failings of this government's schools policy – a policy that has sent unqualified teachers into the classroom and prevented effective collaboration between schools."

(IT/CD)