Welsh Government drops top 20 PISA target

The Welsh Government has dropped next year's target for Wales to be in the top 20 of international education league tables. The so-called PISA tests compare pupils' skills in reading, maths and science. Wales is outside the top 30 and behind the rest of the UK in all three. The Education Minister says that instead, he wants to see Wales reach average PISA scores by 2021.

The Welsh Government has today set out its vision for education for 3 to 19-year-olds from 2015 to 2020.

The 'Qualified for Life' plan aims to develop a strong workforce, an engaging curriculum, internationally respected qualifications, and education leaders working together to improve standards.

The plan contains few new announcements, but rather ties together existing policies, such as the creation of new GCSEs, changes to A-levels and a stronger emphasis on the Welsh Baccalaureate.

The Welsh Government has changed its target for the Pisa rankings - and will introduce an annual 'Wales Education Report Card' from 2015.

The Welsh Government is today expected to downgrade its target for Wales to be in the top 20 of international education league tables by next year.

The so-called Pisa tests compare the performance of 15-year-old pupils around the world in key subjects.

When they were last taken in December 2012, Wales ranked 43rd out of 68 countries for maths, 41st for reading and 36th for science.

Those rankings are all lower than the previous occasion in 2009, and behind both the rest of the UK and the Pisa average.

Former Education Minister Leighton Andrews pledged to reach the top 20 positions when the tests are next taken in December 2015.

His successor Huw Lewis has also stuck by the target, despite slips in performance.

Mr Lewis is today due to set out the Welsh Government's plan to improve the education system over the next five years.

The 'Qualified for Life' plan will focus on building a strong workforce, an engaging curriculum, respected qualifications and effective collaboration.