Will the Cabinet Secretary clarify are secondary schools in Wales expected to prepare students for the programme for international student assessment tests?
Schools participating in PISA are not expected to prepare students for the assessment.
Optional pre-recorded lessons have been made available to schools to introduce PISA and familiarise learners with the question format. These aim to reduce anxiety for those students unfamiliar with this style of assessment.
Each participating learner has received a pamphlet, co-developed with 15-year-olds and Children in Wales, explaining that PISA is a snapshot of skills and that no preparation or revision is needed.
PISA provides valuable insight into our learners’ strengths and areas for improvement, as well as international comparisons. It is not used for school accountability but contributes to the broader evidence base we use to understand the health of our education system.