A new paper published this monthÌýby the Commission on School ReformÌýrecommends that Scotland re-join international surveys, including the (Timss) and the (Pirls).Ìý We agree.ÌýÌý
Scotland has a long and venerable history in the world of large-scale international educational assessments, having participated in the Pilot Twelve Country Study, which collected data in 1960, and was a precursor to Timss, and the First International Mathematics Study in 1964. This legacy has been tarnished, however, by the decision to cease participating in the modern incarnations of these studies since the mid-2000s.
Our two flagship studies focus on the basic school subjects that a young person needs to be a successful learner.ÌýWithout good underlying reading abilities (measured by PirlsÌýin P5), or solid maths and science foundations (measured by TimssÌýin P5 and S2), any student will struggle with all the other subjects they go on to study.
Commission on School Reform report:ÌýData about Scottish education ‘poorest since 1950s’
Background:ÌýScottish government explored leaving Pisa in 2010
Research: Withdrawing from international rankings has damaged teaching in Scotland
A real advantage of the four-year cycle of TimssÌýis that cohorts can be tracked through late primary and early secondary, allowing for meaningful analysis of the educational value added in this phase.
Health checks for an education system
One of the great strengths of our studies is that they are curriculum-based, low-stakes assessments.ÌýThrough their ties to the curriculum, they measure what students have actually learned in school, and don’t involve any stressful revision time.
International large-scale assessments are not competitions at an individual, school or even country level. Instead, they are designed as health checks for an education system. TimssÌýand PirlsÌýare diagnostic tools. They identify the symptoms, not the cure. Their results provide vital insights to help educators and education policy experts to find solutions tailored to the specific culture and needs of their education system. If countries don’t participate, they cannot learn how and where they can improve.
TimssÌýand PirlsÌýare not the only studies that Scotland is missing. The (ICCS) investigates students’ preparedness for undertaking their role of citizens in modern democracies, a topic of great importance now more than ever.ÌýRecent results from our (ICILS)Ìýshowed thatÌýalarminglyÌýjust 2 per centÌýof students use their critical thinking skills when searching for information online. How would Scottish students compare?ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
Some 25 education systemsÌýfrom 23 EU member states took part in the most recent cycles of TimssÌýand Pirls.ÌýScotland, your neighbours are waiting for you to rejoin the international education community.
Dr Dirk Hastedt is the executive director ofÌýÌý,Ìýthe organisation behind the Timss and PirlsÌýstudies
