Friday 6 January 2017 Students at The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) are flying high after taking part in a survey of education systems worldwide and coming out ahead of the leading country, Singapore. The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a triennial research exercise run by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to evaluate education in different countries. Schools and students are selected randomly, with over half a million 15-year-old students in more than 70 countries tested on their science and mathematics knowledge as well as their reading ability. GSAL was one of 550 schools in the UK whose students took part in tests in 2015, the results of which were released last month. In maths, science and reading GSAL students scored higher than Singapore, the top performing country in all three tests. Science was the main focus of PISA in 2015, and the participating students from GSAL scored 611 in the science test, well ahead of the highest scoring country Singapore, which scored 556. In the reading test GSAL students scored 588, ahead of Singapore’s 535, while in maths, GSAL students scored 566, compared with 564 by Singapore’s students. In a letter to GSAL, Nick Gibb MP, the Minister of State for School Standards, thanked the school and students for their contribution “to the collection of vital information that enables us to compare our policies with other countries, review our system in an international context and monitor trends over time.” Sue Woodroofe, GSAL Principal, said: “This excellent news is testimony to the skills and dedication of our teachers and the talents of our wonderful pupils.” The PISA 2015 international report, providing further information about the PISA test and with full results for all participating countries and economies is published on the OECD website. General Senior School Academic Whole School
