March 10, 2026 - 90 views
A major independent report has warned that Wales’ health and education systems are struggling to keep pace with England, raising fresh questions about how public services are performing and what reforms may be needed in the years ahead.
Analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) suggests that educational outcomes in Wales have declined in recent years despite similar levels of funding to England, while wider public services — including health — are also facing mounting pressures.
The report highlights a sharp fall in Wales’ performance in the international Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) tests in 2022, which measure the abilities of 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics and science.
According to the analysis, Wales saw declines in all three subjects, reversing improvements made since 2012.
Researchers said the average pupil in Wales performed at a similar level to the most disadvantaged pupils in England, illustrating the scale of the gap that has opened up between the two education systems.
The report also points to a wider attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers in Wales, estimated at around 22 to 23 months of learning progress — larger than the equivalent gap in England.
Importantly, the IFS notes that these differences are unlikely to be explained purely by poverty levels, as funding per pupil in Wales is broadly similar to England. Instead, researchers suggest policy decisions and the way reforms have been implemented may have played a significant role.
Education policy has been devolved to the Welsh Government since 1999, and Wales has pursued a number of different approaches compared with England in recent years.
These include the introduction of the Curriculum for Wales, which began rolling out in schools in 2022 and aims to move away from traditional subject-based teaching towards a broader focus on skills, creativity and wellbeing.
Alongside education, the report also points to ongoing challenges in the Welsh health service.
The NHS Wales continues to face long waiting lists for treatment and growing demand for services, trends that have been seen across the UK but which have been particularly pronounced in some areas of Wales.
Health leaders say pressures include an ageing population, workforce shortages and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For communities across North Wales and the rest of the country, the findings highlight concerns about how public services are performing at a time when demand continues to grow.
Schools in the region have already begun adapting to the new Curriculum for Wales, with education leaders arguing that reforms are still in their early stages and will take time to show results.
Meanwhile, the Welsh Government has said it is investing in programmes aimed at raising standards, including additional support for disadvantaged pupils and new professional development for teachers.
In health, efforts are also underway to tackle waiting lists and improve services, including investment in diagnostic hubs, surgical centres and digital systems designed to speed up treatment and reduce delays.
However, the IFS report warns that the financial outlook for public services in Wales remains challenging, with future budgets likely to be tight.
Researchers say this could force difficult choices for the next Welsh government, which will face growing pressure to improve outcomes in both schools and healthcare while managing limited resources.
Despite the challenges, policymakers say the focus remains on long-term reform aimed at improving educational attainment and strengthening the resilience of the health service — two areas widely seen as critical to Wales’ economic future and the wellbeing of its communities.
