Widening Gender Gaps: Boys Falling Behind Girls in School and Work

Boys are falling behind girls in educational attainment from early ages, with gaps emerging as early as age 3. By GCSE level, girls have outperformed boys for over 30 years.

The gender gap firstly emerged when GCSEs replaced O-Levels, favouring coursework where girls tend to excel over exams. Biological factors may also play a role.

Men's real wages have fallen over the past 15 years, while women’s have risen. Young men are dropping out of work at record rates, with economic inactivity surging.

There are particularly acute problems among white working-class boys, where just 14.6% progress to higher education. Teachers often have low expectations of these pupils.

Possible solutions include starting boys in school later, more male teachers as role models, and efforts to get men into 'HEAL' jobs in health, education, admin and literacy.