Nursery World - England joint eighth in global reading study

Northern Ireland and England have been ranked among the top ten countries in the world for reading and literacy.

The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2016, the results of which have been released today, ranks Northern Ireland joint sixth and England joint eighth out of 50 countries.

Russia came first in the international education league table, based on a study of the reading comprehension and enjoyment of 340,000 nine- and ten-year-olds around the world.

The Republic of Ireland, in fourth, is the second highest-rated European country on the list.

Wales and Scotland did not participate in the study, which is directed by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement.

PIRLS 2016 represents the fourth time the tests have been run internationally. The survey has been carried out on a five-yearly cycle since 2001 and measures the achievement of Year 6 pupils or their equivalents, aged between nine and ten.

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