This IFS report examines the major challenges for education in Wales, including low outcomes across a range of measures and high levels of inequality. The report argues that low education outcomes, high levels of inequality and their consequences for children’s life chances represent a major challenge for the new First Minister of Wales.
In December 2023, the OECD published the latest round of PISA scores. These international comparisons of reading, maths and science skills always prompt significant public debate, particularly in countries seeing declining scores. The latest tests were taken in 2022.
Most countries saw declining scores, reflecting the effects of school closures during the pandemic. In Wales, scores declined significantly, with the lowest test scores across the four nations of the UK. This erased all the increases seen in Wales since 2012.
This contrasts with the picture elsewhere in the UK.
Low educational outcomes are not likely to be a reflection of higher poverty in Wales, a different ethnic mix of pupils, statistical biases or differences in resources. They are more likely to reflect differences in policy and approach.