English students are trumping their OECD peers in science classes, according to new figures
New international tests show English students are outperforming many of their peers overseas in science classes.
Figures published in the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2015 report this morning revealed that England is trumping averages scores for science.
School children in England remain at average levels for mathematics, and marginally above average in reading when compared to other 70 OECD states.
The figures are based on testing of more than 5,000 15 year olds across England.
The figures also show and more than one in four teenagers would like to work in science in their careers.
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By contrast, just 16 per cent said the same in 2006.
As Prime Minister Theresa May continues moves to support new grammar schools, the findings also reveal that English grammar school pupils average scores equal to, or above, average pupils in high-performing countries.
Additionally, just one per cent of grammar school pupils are low-achievers in science, compared to five per cent at independent schools and 19 per cent at comprehensives.
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School standards minister Nick Gibb said: “Today’s findings provide a useful insight as we consider how to harness the expertise of selective schools in this country in the future.
“We know that grammar schools provide a good education for their disadvantaged pupils, which is why we want more pupils from lower income backgrounds to benefit from that.”