What do the recent A-level results and subject choices tell us about the impact of gender on school academic activity and performance? Well, some boys seem more likely to perform less well towards the bottom of the A-level scale. However, boys also slightly outpace girls at the excellent A* end of matters. There is no clear story here — certainly not without considering the impact of other structural features (see Figure 1).
Perhaps more interesting is the gendering of subject choice by entry. The so-called ‘hard’ sciences — maths, physics and chemistry — are still more favoured by boys, while girls favour certain arts subjects (such as English) and the ‘softer’ science of biology (see Figure 2).
Your organisation does not have access to this article.
Sign up today to give your students the edge they need to achieve their best grades with subject expertise
Subscribe
