Many millions of students pass through American public education and are perfectly well served, ready to go compete in that global marketplace I keep reading about.

FORBES: The Value of Hopeful Skepticism in the Education Reform Debate

The IMF's updated forecasts for the global economy make for depressing reading for anyone in the UK, but might seem reassuring to anyone concerned with the world recovery as a whole.

BBC: IMF expects less of the UK and a lot of the US and Europe

The studies reveal that Asian countries continue to dominate the top of the global tables in maths, science and reading.

BBC: Northern Ireland is 'best in Europe' at primary maths