Reform UK Scotland’s leader has accused the First Minister of the “ruination of a once proud nation” following the release of new education statistics.
During First Minister’s Questions in Holyrood on Thursday, Malcolm Offord said Education Secretary Mairi McAllan had tried to “dress up” disappointing Pisa results.
The international study records the knowledge and skills of 15-year-olds and is co-ordinated by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
In Scotland, performance in science, mathematics and reading did not change significantly between 2022 and 2025, but mathematics and reading declined.
Ms McAllan said following the Pisa results that she will oversee the “largest reform” to Scotland’s curriculum.
Lord Offord told the chamber: “Mairi McAllan has tried to dress up yet another disappointing Pisa result as stability and competitive by international standards.
“Scottish pupils are now a full academic year behind their English peers in science, and Scotland has scored the worst results ever in maths and reading. Meanwhile, England scored a top 10 place in all three disciplines.
“This is shocking, and all the while, honest John has been ever present. As finance minister, he presided over devastating college cuts. As education minister, he marked down 75,000 working-class kids during the pandemic, and now as First Minister he’s traduced a great tradition in education from outstanding to average.
“The ruination of a once proud nation.”
English pupils, thanks to Conservative policies, are in the world top 10 for reading, maths and science. And the same rankings confirm that Scottish pupils continue to decline
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay meanwhile accused the SNP of “trashing Scottish education”.
He said: “English pupils, thanks to Conservative policies, are in the world top 10 for reading, maths and science.
“And the same rankings confirm that Scottish pupils continue to decline.”
Speaking about children in Scotland’s schools, he said: “They are intelligent, they are ambitious, they are hard working. But they are failed by this negligent, useless and complacent SNP government.”
First Minister John Swinney responded that he “accepted” the Pisa results and accused Lord Offord of insulting teachers with his comments.
He said: “I’ll tell Malcolm Offord what ruination looks like. It’s people like him and (Reform UK Scotland deputy leader) Thomas Kerr going round spreading racist filth in our society. That’s what ruination looks like.
“Presiding Officer, I accept the outcome of the Pisa assessments, but the Pisa assessments are one part of the data set that looks at Scottish education.
“If we look at the achievement of Curriculum for Excellence levels data, which is produced by the teachers of Scotland, who Malcolm Offord has just insulted, shows that the proportions of S3 pupils achieving third level or better in literacy or numeracy are at their highest level ever.”
Mr Swinney also said he is “proud of Scottish education”.
He continued: “We have the highest level of young people leaving school, going to positive destinations at 93.5%. We have record levels of young people in Scotland going to university for the first time, including record numbers of young people from deprived backgrounds according to Ucas.
“At National 5, higher pass rate and higher pass rates were both up compared to last year and pre-pandemic, and the poverty-related attainment gap narrowed for National 5, higher and advanced higher.
“That is the full report card on Scottish education, and I’m proud of Scottish education.”