THE latest PISA international education results put England in the top 10 countries worldwide, with the other three parts of the UK falling steadily behind.

This is being widely interpreted as proof that Micheal Gove’s Conservative education reforms a decade ago worked, while the devolved nations took a wrong turn by adopting more fashionable policies – a turn Labour now wants England to take as well.

It also looks like vindication for DUP education minister Paul Givan, who is aiming to follow Gove’s approach. Mr Givan has issued a statement to this effect.

However, there is a recognised issue with PISA figures due to low response rates.

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Factoring this in does not change the rankings but it narrows England’s lead, giving Northern Ireland a strong second place.

The mixed message for Mr Givan and his critics is that we are probably doing almost as well as England because our grammar schools are Gove-esque by default, raising our average score and masking failure in the rest of the system.

So we need to follow England – but we also need to abolish selection.

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The Assembly has passed the Dilapidation Bill brought by Alliance Environment Minister Andrew Muir.

It is difficult to think of any piece of Stormont legislation with a greater potential to improve our surroundings.

Councils will be able to order the maintenance, repair or demolition of neglected buildings, or perform the work themselves and fully recover the costs. If owners fail to pay up, councils can have the property sold on the open market.

The Bill appears to foresee many loopholes and practical problems.

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