SCOTLAND’s pupils are better at collaborative problem-solving than their peers in more than a dozen countries across the world, including Wales and Northern Ireland.
However, the statistics released yesterday, which compare the performance of pupils in more than 35 countries, revealed Scotland was lagging a few points behind England.
Perhaps more worryingly for Education Secretary John Swinney, the data identified a significant gap between rich and poorer children.
The study, carried out in March 2015, analysed the collaborative problem-solving skills of 3,123 15-year-olds at 109 secondary schools across Scotland. It forms part of the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa), a study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Researchers said pupils from the most and least affluent backgrounds differed by 74 points, adding “that would imply a difference of nearly two-and-half-years’ education”.
The study did say that despite a “clear link between background and performance”, pupils in Scotland were “more likely to break away from the pattern of background affecting performance”, with the gap narrower than the OECD average.
Scotland had a mean score of 513, above the average of 500. Australia, Canada, England, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Japan, Korea and New Zealand all had higher scores.
Northern Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, the Netherlands and the US all had similar scores to Scotland, while 19 OECD countries trailed behind, including Wales, France, Spain, Norway, Israel and Iceland.
Researchers found the number of low achievers in Scotland was lower than the OECD average at 23.8 per cent compared to 28.1 per cent.
High achievers accounted for 9.8 per cent, above the OECD average of 7.9 per cent.
Scottish Conservative education spokeswoman Liz Smith said there were some encouraging signs in the report, but pointed to “a very significant attainment gap in Scotland and one which is more extensive than the gap in other competitor nations.”
She added: “Similarly, Scotland still trails behind England when it comes to the percentage share of high achievers.”
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “The collaborative problem-solving Pisa results show that the Scottish education system is performing well in this regard – and above the OECD average.
“Curriculum for Excellence has been OECD endorsed and I am confident that it is the right approach for Scotland.
“But we know where improvements are necessary and we are currently undertaking the biggest and boldest set of reforms to Scottish education in recent times.”
Every three years, Pisa measures students’ competencies in science, reading and mathematics, but this was the first time collaborative problem-solving was tested, with assessments probing how well the teenagers worked together.
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