the gender gap in achievement

Official statistics provide evidence of differences in the achievements of girls and boys at several important stages of their education

what are the 5 different stages

Official statistics provide evidence of differences in the achievements of girls and boys at several important stages of their education:

• on starting school

• at key stages 1 - 3

• at GCSE

• at AS and A-level

• on vocational courses

differences in gender achievements of girls and boys at important stages of education via official statistics - on starting school

• In 20____, what source showed girls ahead of boys by ____% across the five areas of learning assessed- what are these 

• Girls were also better at c____.

• A D___ (20___) study found that in state primary schools boys were 2 and a 1/2  times more likely than girls to have what

differences in gender achievements of girls and boys at important stages of education via official statistics - on starting school

• In 2019, teacher assessments at the end of reception year showed girls ahead of boys by 13.6% across the five areas of learning assessed (physical development, literacy, language, maths, and personal, social and emotional development).

• Girls were also better at concentrating.

• A DfE (2013) study found that in state primary schools boys were 2 and a 1/2  times more likely than girls to have statements of special educational needs.

differences in gender achievements of girls and boys at important stages of education via official statistics - At Key Stages 1 to 3

• At Key Stages 1 to 3, which gender does consistently better?

• This is especially so in what subject?, where the gender gap steadily widens with a___.

• In what subjects is the gap is much narrower? but who still do better?

differences in gender achievements of girls and boys at important stages of education via official statistics - At Key Stages 1 to 3

• At Key Stages 1 to 3, girls do consistently better than boys.

• This is especially so in English, where the gender gap steadily widens with age.

• In science and maths the gap is much narrower, but girls still do better.

differences in gender achievements of girls and boys at important stages of education via official statistics - At GCSE

in 2019

only about  _/3 (_%) of boys’ grades were a p___ (grade 4 or above), compared to around __/4 (__%) of girls’ grades.

in 2024: 

• Girls: ~ ___% achieved a grade 4 or above.

• Boys: ~ ___ % achieved a grade 4 or above.

• in 2024 the proportion of boys passing (grade 4+) is still lower than for girls by about how much % ?

differences in gender achievements of girls and boys at important stages of education via official statistics - At GCSE

in 2019

only about 2/3 (66%) of boys’ grades were a pass (grade 4 or above), compared to around 3/4 (75%) of girls’ grades.

in 2024: 

• Girls: ~ 73.7% achieved a grade 4 or above.

• Boys: ~ 67.1% achieved a grade 4 or above.

• in 2024 the proportion of boys passing (grade 4+) is still lower than for girls by about 6.6%

differences in gender achievements of girls and boys at important stages of education via official statistics - At AS and A-level

• girls are more likely to s___, p___ and get higher g___ than boys, though the gap is much n____ than at GCSE.

In 2019

• % of girls gained what grades at A-level, but only _% of boys.

• Even in so-called 'boys" subjects such as what?, girls were more likely than boys to get what grades?

In 2024

• ___% of girls’ A-level entries were awarded what grades compared with ___% of boys’ entries.

• Also, ___% of boys’ entries got A*, slightly higher than ___% for girls.

• So what happens to the gap in 2024?

differences in gender achievements of girls and boys at important stages of education via official statistics - At AS and A-level

• girls are more likely to sit, pass and get higher grades than boys, though the gap is much narrower than at GCSE.

In 2019

• 53% of girls gained A*-B grades at A-level, but only 49.8% of boys.

• Even in so-called 'boys" subjects such as maths and physics, girls were more likely than boys to get A*-C grades.

In 2024

• 27.8% of girls’ A-level entries were awarded A or higher, compared with 27.4% of boys’ entries.

• Also, 9.5% of boys’ entries got A*, slightly higher than 9.1% for girls.

• So the gap is still there, but quite narrow

differences in gender achievements of girls and boys at important stages of education via official statistics - On vocational courses

• these are courses that prepare students for a c___ but results show a s___ pattern.

• A l____ proportion of girls achieve what grade in every subject, including those such as e_____ and c____ where girls are a t___ m___ of the students.

differences in gender achievements of girls and boys at important stages of education via official statistics - On vocational courses

• these are courses that prepare students for a career but results show a similar pattern.

• A larger proportion of girls achieve distinctions in every subject, including those such as engineering and construction where girls are a tiny minority of the students.

Although results for both sexes have improved at all levels over the years, the girls' rate of improvement has been more r___ and a s_____ g___ has opened up, particularly at GCSE.

Although results for both sexes have improved at all levels over the years, the girls' rate of improvement has been more rapid and a significant gap has opened up, particularly at GCSE.