Girls in England lag behind boys in maths and science study

A recent report from the Department for Education in England has revealed a concerning trend: girls are falling behind boys in math and science subjects. This study, known as the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), is conducted every four years and the latest findings indicate that the gap between boys and girls in Year 5 and Year 9 has widened significantly compared to previous studies. In Year 9 math, boys scored an impressive 26 points higher than girls, marking the largest disparity among all participating countries. Schools Minister Catherine McKinnell has stated that the government is committed to promoting science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects, particularly among girls, to help bridge this gap. The TIMSS study, carried out by researchers at University College London, utilized data collected in 2023. In the realm of science, Year 9 boys outperformed girls by 14 points. This is a stark contrast to the previous report published in 2020, which showed girls scoring three points higher than boys. The question arises: what factors are contributing to boys outperforming girls in these subjects? Jennie Golding, a co-author of the report from the Institute of Education at UCL, suggests that issues related to confidence and a sense of belonging may be influencing girls' performance. She emphasized the need for further research to fully understand and address these challenges, especially since boys and girls had similar TIMSS scores in earlier studies. Mary Richardson, the other co-author, pointed out that the lingering effects of Covid, learning loss, and changes in educational environments might be surfacing now. This assessment was also the first to be conducted entirely online, which researchers believe could have impacted the scores. The gender gap in favor of boys has also been observed in other countries, including Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. However, when examining Year 6 Sats results for 2024 in England, the gap narrows significantly, with girls outperforming boys in all subjects except math, where boys led by just one percentage point. This trend continues into higher education, where boys generally perform better than girls in math and science, although the difference is less pronounced than in the latest TIMSS findings. Additionally, the TIMSS study revealed that a greater number of boys reported feeling 'very confident' in math compared to their female counterparts. Tanya Tracey, the chief executive of the charity Girls Are Investors, highlighted that many girls and young women they support struggle with a fear of failure and a lack of confidence. She noted that girls often feel pressured to be perfect and fear making mistakes. The charity aims to encourage more women and girls to pursue careers in the male-dominated investing sector through mentorship and workshops. Tanya stated, 'Part of the job is knowing you won't get it right all the time - that's a surprise to many girls I think. They always think they have to be perfect. ' In response to these findings, the government has announced plans to review the curriculum and assessment methods to ensure that all children receive a strong foundation in math. The schools minister emphasized the importance of breaking the link between a child's background and their success, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to achieve and thrive.