Selection and league tables

• Marketisation has created a competitive climate

  • Schools see girls are more desirable as they achieve better exam results

Jackson (1998)

• League tables have improved opportunities for girls

  • High-achieving girls attractive to schools (low-achieving boys not)

    • Leads to a self-fulfilling prophecy

      • Girls more likely to be recruited by good schools and therefore more likely to do well

Slee (1998)

• Boys less attractive to schools due to increased likelihood of having behavioural difficulties

  • Boys are 4x more likely to be excluded

• Seen as ‘liability students’

  • Obstacles to schools improving league table positions/scores

    • Give schools a ‘rough tough’ image that deters high-achieving girls from applying