PIRLS

PIRLS 2011 - NFER is currently conducting PIRLS 2011 in England and Northern Ireland on behalf of the DfE and DENI. The main study testing phase was completed in May/June 2011 and scripts are currently being scored and analysed.

The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) measures trends in children's reading literacy achievement at age 10 and collects information about reading and literacy policies and teaching practices every five years.

PIRLS is an important indication of the success of the Government in raising standards of reading. It provides comparisons with many other countries, in terms of the attainments of pupils and the strategies used to teach reading.

Modern international surveys are conducted to high standards of quality control and quality assurance. To read more about these procedures [click here]. Stringent criteria must be met for the samples achieved and the materials and procedures are scrutinised by international referees.

The PIRLS work requires a series of stages: sampling; preparation and verification of instruments; contacts with schools; identification and training of administrators; data collection; marking of the reading assessments; data capture and cleaning; representing England at international meetings; reviewing international reports; preparing an encyclopaedia article on the education system and the teaching of reading in England and writing a national report on PIRLS.

The PIRLS 2006 National Report for England is available at www.nfer.ac.uk/publications/PRN01/

The international PIRLS website is available here.