Wales is falling further behind the rest of the United Kingdom in international school assessments, according to recent results from the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
The PISA tests, administered every three years to students aged 15, assess their ability to apply knowledge in reading, mathematics, and science to real-life challenges. The latest results indicate a continued "downward trend" in these core subjects for Wales.
More than 760,000 students from 91 countries and economies participated in the 2025 assessment. The PISA framework aims to provide governments with insights into their educational systems' competitiveness. However, some experts have raised questions about the value and influence of these assessments on educational policy.
The OECD noted that outcomes have "largely stagnated or continued to decline in many countries" following a significant drop in the 2022 results. The steepest decline was observed in reading, which the OECD identified as a long-term "weakening of performance" that predated the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the OECD, moderate use of digital devices for learning in schools is often associated with better results. Conversely, significantly worse outcomes were reported when these devices were used for leisure activities within schools. The organization suggested that improving education systems involves setting high and consistent expectations for students, ensuring teachers possess strong pedagogical skills beyond subject knowledge, and strategically integrating AI without replacing essential learning processes.
Welsh officials acknowledged that the results are "not where we want them to be" but stated that they reinforce existing knowledge and highlight the need to prioritize improvements in reading and math standards. While PISA results are not the sole measure of school performance, they are taken seriously. Plans are in place to support schools in raising standards. The Welsh government intends to launch a Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Plan as a step toward developing a more equitable education system.