Boys Outperform Girls in Maths, Science in England

Recent research from University College London (UCL) demonstrates a significant widening of the gender gap in math and science performance in England, with boys now outpacing girls by a substantial margin. The 2023 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (Timss) reveals boys scoring 538 in both subjects, surpassing girls by 26 points in math and 14 points in science, reversing nearly two decades of similar results. Researchers attribute part of this disparity to factors such as confidence, sense of belonging, and absenteeism but acknowledge that more research is needed to fully understand the causes. This trend is not isolated to England, as similar patterns have been observed in countries like the US, Canada, and Australia. The study also highlights socioeconomic factors, noting that students from lower-income backgrounds, identified through proxies like the number of books at home, consistently perform worse. The findings challenge previous assertions of boys falling behind and indicate a need for targeted interventions to address the emerging educational imbalance.