Dr Linda Croxford and Dr Cathy Howieson compiled a wide range of statistics relating to the performance of girls and boys in schools, higher education and the labour market, which have been used as the basis for a study led by Professor Emer Smyth, of the Economic and Social Research Institute, Dublin. Prof Smyth’s presentation of the results can be accessed here – http://www.davidhumeinstitute.com/boys-less-well-education-girls/ – and the main findings include:
- There is no evidence to support ‘boy-friendly’ pedagogies
- Gender & social equity are interrelated, as working-class boys have the poorest outcomes
- Aspects that can make a difference include wider access to out-of-school learning, recognising risks of gender stereotyping with approaches to subject choice, and less rigid ability grouping
