PISA 2012 – Performance in Mathematics and School Size : Performance in Mathematics and School Size

Abstract

A study of the results of PISA 2003 in Iceland showed that pupils in the two largest schools did was significantly better than in smaller schools. The score was particularly low in schools with 11–25 participants in PISA. A study of the PISA 2003 score in Denmark also showed better results in larger schools than in smaller ones. When the results of PISA 2012 in Iceland were published, the Educational Testing Institute of Iceland was asked to classify the results into four categories based on school size. The results in the largest schools turned out to be significantly better than in smaller schools. A questionnaire was sent to a selection of schools in each category, omitting the category of the smallest schools. In the questionnaire mathematics teachers were asked questions on their education, proportion of their work in teaching mathematics, experience in teaching mathematics in lower secondary school and material used. The results indicated that full-time work in mathematics teaching, many years of teaching mathematics and in particular continuity in teaching i.e. teachers' experience in teaching the same group and the same material for many years leads to better performance.