Scotland’s education performance is suffering a “catastrophic rate of decline”, says the architect of the country’s curriculum.
An international survey of 15-year-olds found the performance of Scottish teenagers in science, maths and reading tests last year had fallen again to record the country’s worst ever results.
The decline across the board – and since the turn of the century – has allowed rival nations to surge ahead of Scotland in the Programme for International Student Assessment league table, which is based on tests sat by children across 72 jurisdictions.
Keir Bloomer, who played a central role in developing the Curriculum for Excellence, said the ground Scotland is losing to other countries is a major concern.
“This is a catastrophic rate of decline,” he told The Courier.
“It’s not a disastrous performance in that it’s around the average mark, but compared with where we were in 2000, I think this is very bad news.”
Mr Bloomer, who is chairman of the Commission on School Reform, added it represents a “serious blow” to Nicola Sturgeon’s drive to raise attainment and reinforces her government’s own education figures, which have shown stagnating performance.
For reading, Scotland has plunged from sixth in 2000 to 23rd in 2015, according the tables published today by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
There was a similar decline in maths, which has seen Scotland fall from 9th in 2003 to 24th last year.
In science, Scotland sits in 19th place, compared with 10th in 2006.
Tuesday’s results are the first time in which all three subject areas were rated “average” rather than “above average”.
Labour’s education spokesman Iain Gray said they are “terrible results” after 10 years of cuts to school budgets.
Scottish Conservative shadow education secretary Liz Smith said the results showed a “decade of failure” under the SNP.
Tavish Scott, for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said they show a “worrying decline in our education system.”
Ross Greer, the Scottish Greens MSP, called for tax rises to fully fund councils and their delivery of education.
Education Secretary John Swinney admitted the figures make “uncomfortable reading”.
He said: “There is great strength in Scottish education but these results underline the case for radical reform of Scotland’s education system.
“The results undoubtedly make uncomfortable reading but they contain a plain message: we must continue to make the changes that are necessary to strengthen Scottish education.
“We must recognise that while Pisa is only now being published, it dates from the period in which our own statistics on literacy and numeracy were published and prompted our current programme of reform.
“Both sets of figures tell us the same thing. Reform is essential.”
