The underperformance of boys in exams is a matter of “national concern”, a report has warned.
The lead of girls over boys is expected to narrow when GCSE results are published on Thursday. But according to Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at the University of Buckingham, boys will remain far behind.
In a report published on Monday he warned: “This is of national importance, because we are not developing the talents of half the population as fully as we could.
“This can only lead to a decline in the nation’s economic competitiveness and ultimately loss of standing in the world.”
Girls leapt to their highest lead over boys in GCSE results during the pandemic when grades were determined by teacher assessments.
In 2021 the gap between boys and girls in top grades reached a record 8.8 percentage points. This dropped last year when exams were reintroduced but girls were still 7.2 percentage points higher than boys, with 29.6 per cent of girls’ exams graded seven or above, compared with 22.4 per cent for boys.
Professor Smithers said evidence suggested teachers tended to favour girls when making grade predictions.
He added: “Girls have come to dominate education, not only at GCSE but also at A-level and in degrees, both in terms of numbers and performance.” He said boys and girls did equally well under the old system of O-levels but girls have on average always done better than boys at GCSEs.
Professor Smithers said when he had previously called for a “high-level inquiry” into the underperformance of boys he had been met with “the complacent view that since men usually came out on top anyway what’s the worry about?”
About 300,000 fewer top GCSE grades could be awarded on Thursday, which will be a “shock” to pupils and their parents, Professor Smithers said.
Exams regulator Ofqual is deliberately lowering results after grades spiralled during the pandemic.
