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<p>The government is dedicated to improving the education system to improve outcomes
for children and young people, and this will help maintain its global competitiveness.</p><p>A
key part of this is our relentless focus on driving up education standards to deliver
better outcomes. In 2023, primary aged children in England came 4<sup>th</sup> out
of 43 countries which tested pupils of the same age, in the Progress in International
Reading Literacy Study, making them the best in the western world at reading. In 2019,
primary aged pupils in England achieved their highest ever score in mathematics in
the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, a significant improvement
compared to 2015.</p><p>At secondary level, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation
and Development’s (OECD) Programme for International Student Assessment 2018 results
showed that 15-year-olds in England performed above the OECD averages for reading,
mathematics, and science. Since 2009, 15-year-olds in England have climbed 10 places
in reading and mathematics.</p><p>This government is committed to creating a world-leading
skills system which is employer-focused, high-quality, and fit for the future. Our
reforms are strengthening higher and further education to help more people get good
jobs and upskill and retrain throughout their lives; and to improve national productivity.
This includes increasing opportunities for people to develop higher technical skills
through T Levels, Apprenticeship Standards, Skills Bootcamps, or Higher Technical
Qualifications. All of which have been developed hand in glove with thousands of employers
and introduced under this government.</p><p>From 2025, the Lifelong Learning Entitlement
will transform access to further and higher education, offering all adults the equivalent
of four years’ worth of student loans to use flexibly on quality education training
over their lifetime. The department will introduce the Advanced British Standard (ABS)
for 16-19 year-olds, a new Baccalaureate-style qualification that takes the best of
A levels and T Levels and brings them together into a single qualification.</p><p>The
ABS will increase the number of taught hours by an extra 15% for most 16-19 students,
increasing the average number of subjects students take and ensuring that all students
continue to study mathematics and English. This will give students greater breadth
of knowledge and bring us more in line with other countries. The department will make
an initial downpayment now to support the ABS, which will focus on recruiting and
retaining teachers in shortage subjects and providing better resources for teachers
and pupils.</p><p>Since 2010, the department has driven up standards in education,
and created more opportunities to gain new skills that businesses truly value. So
whatever age or stage of life people are at they can access high-quality opportunities
to get ahead in their chosen career.</p>
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