NEU Cymru comment on PISA results for Wales
Speaking about the publication of the Wales’s results from the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessments (PISA), Emma Forrest, NEU’s Assistant General Secretary Regions, Wales, and Legal Strategy, said:
"NEU Cymru members won’t be shocked by the results from the OECD’s PISA results, they don’t really tell us anything which the education workforce doesn’t know – that across most OECD countries schools need support in the context of a post-pandemic situation.
"Comparison is difficult. We are particularly concerned that these results do not represent the full cohort of learners in many of the countries represented. Whilst this is understandable, in the context of the pandemic, it makes comparisons less meaningful.
“Here in Wales, we have the new Curriculum for Wales, which none of the cohort tested in PISA have been taking. If the WG wants to take anything from these results, it is an opportunity to ensure that they have a qualifications system which does not focus on tests and time-limited exams but gives young people a real chance to show what they can do.
"We will continue to work with the Welsh Government on the critical aspects of workload and professional development for the workforce, and how we can best support the wellbeing and expertise of staff, to ensure they are able to focus on children and their learning."