Sadly, however, the OECD only praises them for minimising gender differences in attainment. \u00a0Boys and girls now do equally badly, it seems. \u00a0This is not what equal opportunities was supposed to be about.<\/p>\n
I searched the report<\/a> in vain for the much-promised conclusion that all the focus on ESDGC in Wales had borne fruit. \u00a0 It wasn't there. \u00a0Actually, there was no mention of ESDGC; odd that, given that part of it's purpose was to create a world-class education system. \u00a0There were lots of references to sustainability, sustainable, sustain<\/em> and the like, but these were all in the sense of keeping going \u2013 that is, keep on trying to do better by the children (and the economy) of Wales.<\/p>\n The report's\u00a0Foreword<\/em> ends with this:<\/p>\n The report Improving Schools in Wales: An OECD Perspective<\/em> proposes a comprehensive strategy tor Wales to support equity and quality in its school system building on a comparative perspective. \u00a0It draws upon lessons from PISA, high performers and successful reformers in education, and on the research and analysis of key aspects of education policy in Wales undertaken by the OECD-Wales Review Team (Annex A). \u00a0This report identifies the main strengths and challenges of the Welsh school system and provides a number of recommendations and policy options for further improvement with a longer term perspective. \u00a0The report recommends that four areas are given priority:<\/p>\n Devastating. \u00a0This suggests that, if the OECD were Ofsted, Wales would be in special measures<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n