Responding to a new report from the IFS which found that Welsh education and health services are 'under-performing', Laura Doel, national secretary at NAHT Cymru, said:

“School leaders in Wales are working hard to deliver for their pupils amid all manner of challenges – from funding shortfalls and supporting children with additional learning needs (ALN), to issues outside school which can affect attendance and attainment.

“While the PISA analysis can be useful, we should not over-interpret these results and rely on simplistic comparisons which may not capture the richness of children’s learning or the different stages of education policy development in different countries.

“School leaders will be particularly interested to understand where the increased spending on education identified by the IFS has gone – because it has not reached the frontline. More investment is desperately needed to support severely stretched school budgets, as well as in vital health and social care services which can be so important in supporting families and helping ensure children attend school and thrive.”