Scottish Education Secretary promises curriculum reform

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The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025 found that while the decline in Scotland’s performance in science, mathematics, and reading had largely flatlined since 2022, it had fallen behind England.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland the day of its publication, Keir Bloomer of the Commission on School Reform — connected to the Enlighten think tank — argued there had been “a steady decline over the years in all three of the main areas which it tests” and that despite some improvement in science, Scotland was “far behind where we were when the Pisa testing started.”

“Since Pisa began to be introduced in the year 2000, this is the poorest set of results that Scotland has achieved,” he said.

Speaking on the same programme, Ms McAllan insisted she was “clear-eyed” about the results she says “indicate change is required.”

“Reform is under way and I intend to take it forward fulsomely,” she said.

“I don’t deny for a second I want to see improvement against Pisa results and I want to assure listeners there is substantial work under way just now to change our curriculum in Scotland.”

She added: “I intend to be a reforming education secretary and I will drive those reforms forward.

“They are about clarifying the role of knowledge in our curriculum, clarifying the progression a young person ought to make.”

However, Andrea Bradley, general secretary of EIS, Scotland’s largest teaching union, made clear in its response to Pisa: “The real question is whether the Scottish government, which funds public services, and the local authorities who are responsible for our schools are willing to make the political and financial choices necessary to realise the right to quality public education for every learner. 

“This means fully funding education for smaller class sizes and sufficient ASN provision, GTCS-registered teachers in all ELC settings, and universal free school meals.  

“Mission critical also is valuing education professionals, ensuring strong recruitment and retention through the offer of decent professional pay, conditions, and security of employment if young people in Scotland are to receive the education that they deserve and that our society needs them to have.”