English pupils performed well in the latest series of prestigious international tests, maintaining their results in mathematics and improving in science, a subject in which they rose to fifth place in the rankings.
They were among the students from 70 countries who participated in the 2023 edition of International Trends. Mathematics and Science Study (Timss), which takes place every four years and provides education policy makers with international comparisons.
Experts had expected a decline in earnings when results were released on Wednesday, due to the lingering impact of disruption caused by Covid. The last international tour Pisa Teststaken in 2022 and published last year, showed a sharp decline in results across the board.
Analysis by experts at University College London (UCL) found England’s performance was “surprisingly resilient”. Students have maintained good results in mathematics, which have improved over the past two decades, while science results have increased significantly after a strong slowdown in the 2019 cycle.
Although England’s results are significantly above the international average, they still lag behind the world’s best-performing education systems, including Singapore, Chinese Taipei, South Korea and Hong Kong, which are once again no longer at the top of the ranking.
The online tests were completed by 8,300 pupils in England last year, from two different age groups: primary pupils in year 5, aged 9 and 10, and secondary pupils aged 13 and 14 years old in 9th grade. In total, 650,000 students around the world took part.
Year 5 students in England scored an average of 552 in maths, just below 2019’s score of 556, putting them ninth overall, with Singapore leading with a score of 615.
The older cohort of Grade 9 students achieved an average score of 525, a slight increase from 515 four years earlier, putting them in sixth place, with Singapore once again topping the rankings with 605. Australia and the United States scored 509 and 488 respectively.
In science, Year 5 pupils from England came in fifth with an average score of 556, up from 537 in 2019. Ahead of them were Singapore (607), South Korea (583), Chinese Taipei (573) and Turkey (570). England’s oldest cohort also took fifth place in science with an average score of 531 – up from 517 four years earlier – in a ranking once again dominated by Singapore (606).
Lead researcher Dr Jennie Golding, from IOE, UCL Faculty of Education and Society, said: “Given that students in this cycle were tested just three years after the pandemic lockdowns began , we expected to see lower scores in England and indeed in most participating countries. country.
“The fact that students in England have maintained and even improved their results is down to their hard work over recent years and the determination and dedication of their teachers to support learning in prolonged and incredibly difficult circumstances. difficult. »
The UCL report says: “It is important to note that average performance measures may mask the difficulties of particular groups of students whose learning has been less resilient in recent years, and some concerning aspects of the results require further exploration. »
Education Standards Minister Catherine McKinnell said: “High and rising standards are at the heart of this Government’s mission to remove barriers to opportunity and ensure every child has the best chance in life.
“To raise standards in key subjects like maths, physics, chemistry and computing, we are offering tax-free incentives of up to £31,000 to attract talented trainees into teaching. The government’s independent review of programs and assessments will also ensure that children leave school ready for life, work and the future.