PISA results from across the world show that supporting, training and recruiting excellent teachers brings high academic achievement.

The article on BBC news: www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-38157811 describes how the UK is ranked just 15th in the PISA results as the OECD monitors academic achievement in maths, reading and science amongst 15 and 16 year olds across the world.

Strong investment in teaching children, with status of teaching as a respected professional role raises standards and expectations for children.

PISA 2016 Maths: Top Singapore, UK: 26th
PISA 2016 Reading: Top Singapore, UK, 21st
PISA 2016 Science: Top Singapore, UK: 15th

There is evidence that Singapore is concerned about the mental health of their students: in the UK, we are considering this too.

So, to what does Singapore relate its success?
* High quality teaching
* No child left behind
* Best teachers to teach the least able children
* Not necessary to segregate the children who are doing better.

Result?
Singapore at the top of the class, with children the equivalent of 15 months ahead of UK children!
35% of Singaporean children are high achievers, just 11% of UK children are high achievers.

Today, Nick Gibb, Conservative Minister continues to use these results to promote the role of Grammar schools. This is not a proven strategy to be successful for the children overall, and the Singaporean example shows that supporting, training and using high quality teachers really works.

We must restore teaching to the status the professionals that they are.
Investment in teachers teaching children, as well as buildings is important
Quality of teaching, not structure of the schools is the key issue.

Jackie Porter

PISA results from across the world show that supporting, training and recruiting excellent teachers brings high academic achievement.

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