LONDON — England has outperformed Scotland in maths, reading and science in the newly released PISA 2025 results, with English pupils also ranking among the strongest performers internationally.
England recorded scores of 516 in science, 497 in reading and 492 in maths, compared with Scotland’s 491 in science, 488 in reading and 467 in maths.
The figures put England 25 points ahead of Scotland in science and maths, while the gap in reading stands at nine points.
The results come from the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment, which measures how well 15-year-old students can apply their knowledge and skills in real-world situations.
England vs Scotland PISA 2025 Results: Full Score Comparison
| Subject | England | Scotland | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Science | 516 | 491 | England +25 |
| Reading | 497 | 488 | England +9 |
| Maths | 492 | 467 | England +25 |
The Scottish Government’s PISA 2025 report shows Scotland performing significantly below England across all three core subjects.
The biggest gaps were recorded in science and maths, where England finished 25 points ahead.
Scotland’s maths score of 467 was close to the OECD average, while its science and reading results remained above the international average.
Scotland scored 491 in science compared with an OECD average of 482, while its reading score of 488 was also above the OECD average.
The latest figures therefore show a mixed picture for Scotland: pupils remain competitive internationally in several areas, but the performance gap with England remains significant.
England Reaches Top 10 as Scotland Trails Its UK Peer
England’s results have attracted particular attention because pupils ranked among the world’s strongest performers across maths, reading and science.
The Department for Education’s PISA 2025 report for England shows the country maintaining a strong position compared with many other participating education systems.
The results quickly triggered debate over education policy across the UK, with commentators highlighting the growing contrast between England and Scotland.
The education debate comes at a time of wider political scrutiny across Britain, with policy and leadership questions also shaping recent coverage of Keir Starmer and the latest UK political developments.
Education commentator Sam Freedman was among those reacting to the figures on X, pointing to England’s position among the top-performing countries in reading, maths and science and describing the results as a major public-policy achievement.
The England-Scotland comparison is also likely to increase political scrutiny of Scotland’s education system, particularly because its longer-term performance remains below some earlier PISA cycles.
Scotland recorded 467 in maths in 2025, compared with 471 in 2022. Reading moved from 493 to 488, while science increased from 483 to 491.
However, Scotland’s official PISA report notes that the changes between 2022 and 2025 were not statistically significant, meaning the latest results should not be interpreted as a sudden collapse in performance.
Over a longer period, the picture is more challenging. Scotland’s mathematics score remains significantly below levels recorded across several earlier PISA cycles.
Scottish Education Secretary Màiri McAllan said the results showed both strengths and areas where further improvement is needed.
The Scottish Government has highlighted performance above the OECD average in science, reading and computational problem-solving, while also pointing to ongoing curriculum reforms.
Scotland recorded a score of 515 in computational problem-solving, above the OECD average of 500.
The government has said its Curriculum Improvement Cycle will continue to be rolled out across schools, with changes expected to be fully implemented with teachers by 2028.
The latest PISA results are part of a much broader international conversation about education, technology and the pressures facing young people. In Australia, policymakers are also debating how online platforms affect users through the proposed “My Feed, My Way” social media reforms.
PISA is conducted by the OECD and assesses 15-year-old students in participating countries and education systems around the world.
The assessment does not simply test knowledge from a school curriculum. Instead, it examines how students apply what they have learned to unfamiliar and practical situations.
The latest PISA 2025 results are likely to keep education performance high on the political agenda across the UK, particularly as England’s international standing contrasts with weaker results in Scotland and Wales.
Source note: This report is based on PISA 2025 data published by the OECD, the UK Department for Education and the Scottish Government on September 8, 2026.
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