GENDER DIFFERENCES IN
ACHIEVEMENT
, GENDER GAP IN ACHIEVEMENT
• Performance: In recent years, important changes in the area of education have occurred. In particular, both sexes have raised their leve
achievement since the 1970s, however girls have now overtaken the boys in achievement.
• Official statistics
• On starting school:A national survey of 6,953 children by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority found that girls scored higher in al
tests. 62% of girls could concentrate without supervision for 10 mins whereas only 49% of boys could do the same. 56% of girls could w
and spell their own name correctly but only 42% of boys could. According to DfES (2007) study, 70% of children with identified special
needs are boys.
• At key stages 1 to 3: Girls do consistently better than boys, especially in English. The gender gap widens with age. In science and maths
gender gap is narrower but girls still do better.
• At GCSE: The 2019 GCSE results show a 9.8% gender gap, with 71.7% of females achieving a grade 4/ C or above, compared to only 62
of males. The gender gap is only 6.5% for high grades in all subjects. The gender gap does vary considerably by subject as for English,
do much better than boys, they outperform boys by around 16% for ‘good grades’. For maths the gender gap is 0.5% in favour of boys.
• AS and A-level: Girls are more likely to pass and get higher grades and they are more likely to achieve A*-C grades even in "boys" subje
like maths and physics. Whereas 94% of boys, passed two or more A levels in 2006. The average points score was 274 for boys but 295
girls.
• Vocational courses: Vocational classes train students for a job, which results show a similar trend showing success. In all subjects, includ
those such as engineering and construction where girls are a small minority of the students, a greater percentage of girls achieve
distinctions.
ACHIEVEMENT
, GENDER GAP IN ACHIEVEMENT
• Performance: In recent years, important changes in the area of education have occurred. In particular, both sexes have raised their leve
achievement since the 1970s, however girls have now overtaken the boys in achievement.
• Official statistics
• On starting school:A national survey of 6,953 children by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority found that girls scored higher in al
tests. 62% of girls could concentrate without supervision for 10 mins whereas only 49% of boys could do the same. 56% of girls could w
and spell their own name correctly but only 42% of boys could. According to DfES (2007) study, 70% of children with identified special
needs are boys.
• At key stages 1 to 3: Girls do consistently better than boys, especially in English. The gender gap widens with age. In science and maths
gender gap is narrower but girls still do better.
• At GCSE: The 2019 GCSE results show a 9.8% gender gap, with 71.7% of females achieving a grade 4/ C or above, compared to only 62
of males. The gender gap is only 6.5% for high grades in all subjects. The gender gap does vary considerably by subject as for English,
do much better than boys, they outperform boys by around 16% for ‘good grades’. For maths the gender gap is 0.5% in favour of boys.
• AS and A-level: Girls are more likely to pass and get higher grades and they are more likely to achieve A*-C grades even in "boys" subje
like maths and physics. Whereas 94% of boys, passed two or more A levels in 2006. The average points score was 274 for boys but 295
girls.
• Vocational courses: Vocational classes train students for a job, which results show a similar trend showing success. In all subjects, includ
those such as engineering and construction where girls are a small minority of the students, a greater percentage of girls achieve
distinctions.
