Children in England are becoming more boffiny as they have moved into the top five for science in international rankings. Pupils in Years 5 and 9 improved or maintained scores in science and maths compared to the year before the Covid-19 pandemic.
England has leapt from 14th to fifth in secondary school science and from 12th to fifth in primary school science, making our children top boffins. The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) is based on tests which occur every four years.
More than 650,000 children aged between nine and 10 (Year 5) and between 13 and 14 (Year 9) in 64 countries participated in the study. University College London (UCL) Institute of Education (IoE) researchers said there were “significant increases” in England’s science scores in both year groups post-Covid.
READ MORE: Biohacker who transferred son’s blood to stay young shares face after fat injection
READ MORE: Boffins discover 35,000 ‘Near Earth Asteroids’ that could wipe out ‘cities and countries’
(Image: Getty Images)
England has not been placed in the top five for secondary school science since 2007, and it was last ranked fifth for primary school science in 2003. Countries in East Asia – including Singapore and South Korea – have continued to dominate the top boff positions in the league tables for science and maths.
But England came ahead of Japan, Australia and Hong Kong in primary science, and also above Hong Kong in secondary science.
Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said the “encouraging results” places England “well above the international average”. He praised the hard work and “incredible dedication” of teachers off the back of the pandemic.
(Image: Getty Images)
School standards minister Catherine McKinnell said: “High and rising standards are at the heart of this Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity.”
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.