English teenagers perform strongly in international test
PISA 2025 shows good results, but also concerns about reading and digital distraction.
England ranks among the better-performing education systems in the new PISA comparison for reading, mathematics and science. At the same time, researchers and education experts warn of broader international declines in basic skills.
The 2025 PISA test examined the performance of 15-year-old pupils in mathematics, reading and science. More than ninety education systems took part. On 8 September, the British Department for Education published a separate report on England’s results.
According to the published summaries, England scored 492 points in mathematics, 497 in reading and 516 in science. This meant English pupils performed better than pupils in many other countries in the international comparison. The figures are averages and say nothing about the performance of each individual school.
England’s strong position does not mean there are no problems. The Guardian reported that average reading results in many OECD countries have fallen since 2018. The international averages for mathematics and science are also under pressure, although the patterns differ from country to country.
There is no single established explanation for this development. Education experts point, among other things, to digital distraction, the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic and declining family engagement with schoolwork. Such explanations are interpretations of the figures, not separately proven causes of the international decline.
In recent years, England has placed strong emphasis on a more structured curriculum and clear basic skills. The PISA results may support those policy choices, but the test is not a controlled experiment. Other factors, such as socioeconomic differences, selection and differences between the UK’s education systems, influence the outcome.
For the Netherlands, the international trend is particularly relevant. A country can score highly while groups of pupils fall behind. Policy choices on the curriculum, teachers, screen use and support for vulnerable pupils therefore require more evidence than a single ranking. PISA can guide the debate, but it does not replace analysis of Dutch schools and pupils.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- PISA 2025 compares the performance of 15-year-olds.
- England performed relatively strongly in the three tested domains.
- Reading and mathematics scores fell in many countries.
- The test shows differences, but does not prove a specific cause.
Left
Arguments Emphasises that average scores can be misleading without attention to poverty, school segregation and support for vulnerable pupils.
Values Equal opportunities, inclusion and public responsibility.
Consequences Wants additional resources devoted to tackling disadvantage and to teachers, even if this does not immediately lead to higher ranking scores.
Centre
Arguments Wants to examine the English approach without automatically adopting it, combining clear basic skills with professional freedom for schools.
Values Evidence-based policy, continuity and feasibility.
Consequences Warns against rapid reforms based on a single international measurement.
Right
Arguments Emphasises a strong curriculum, discipline, less distraction in the classroom and clear requirements for reading and numeracy.
Values Knowledge, responsibility and measurable quality.
Consequences Fears that broad educational objectives and too little emphasis on basic skills will not prepare pupils adequately for further education and the labour market.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The key figures and the status of PISA 2025 were checked against the official English report and public reporting. Causal explanations were not presented as established facts.
- confirmed PISA 2025 examined 15-year-old pupils in reading, mathematics and science. — Mentioned in the official report by the British Department for Education. source
- confirmed England scored 492 in mathematics, 497 in reading and 516 in science. — The scores are stated in the public summary of the results. source
- confirmed Reading results have fallen since 2018 in many OECD countries. — Described in reporting on the PISA 2025 results. source
- confirmed PISA is not a controlled experiment and does not independently explain the causes of changes in scores. — This follows from the nature of the international comparative test; the sources present causes as possible explanations. source
Editor's note
The English scores and participation figures come from official and independent sources. Explanations for international declines are presented as hypotheses and interpretations.Sources
- PISA 2025: national report for England — Department for Education
- England’s teenagers outperform peers in most countries — The Guardian
- Families’ interest in their kids’ education is falling — AP News
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „onderwijs engeland”
- AD — „onderwijs engeland”
- de Volkskrant — „onderwijs engeland”