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Gender patterns in school performance: comparative evidence
Presented by
Professor Tony Gallagher
Queen’s University Belfast
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland selective system since 1947
tests at end of primary school a third to grammar schools rest to secondary schools
gender patterns separate groups for grades court case ruled this illegal short-term increase in % of girls going
to grammar school
Leavers with good GCSEs+ 1963-99Figure 1: leavers with %5+ GCSEs A*-C, 1963 to 1999
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
7019
64/6
5
1966
/67
1968
/69
1970
/71
1972
/73*
1974
/75
1976
/77
1979
/80
1983
/84
1986
/87
1988
/89
1990
/91
1992
/93
1994
/95
1996
/97
1998
/99
Boys
Girls
Leavers with 2+ A Levels, 1963-99Figure 2: leavers with 2+ A Levels 1963 to 1999
0
10
20
30
40
5019
63/6
4
1965
/66
1967
/68
1969
/70
1971
/72
1973
/74
1975
/76
1977
/78
1981
/82
1985
/86
1987
/88
1989
/90
1991
/92
1993
/94
1995
/96
1997
/98
1999
/00
Boys Girls
Grammar leavers with good GCSEs+, 1986-99
Figure 3: Grammar leavers 5+ GCSEs A*-C
80
85
90
95
10019
86/8
7
1987
/88
1990
/91
1991
/92
1992
/93
1993
/94
1994
/95
1995
/96
1996
/97
1997
/98
1998
/99
1999
/00
Boys Girls All
Secondary leavers with good GCSEs+, 1986-99
Figure 4: Secondary leavers 5+ GCSEs A*-C
10
20
30
40
50
1986
/87
1987
/88
1990
/91
1991
/92
1992
/93
1993
/94
1994
/95
1995
/96
1996
/97
1997
/98
1998
/99
1999
/00
Boys Girls All
Grammar schools:%Year 12 with good GCSEs
Figure 5: grammar schools, 5+ good GCSEs
70
80
90
100
1 7 13 19 25 31 37 43 49 55 61 67 73
5acboys
5acgirls
Secondary schools:%Year 12 with good GCSEs
Figure 6: secondary schools 5+ good GCSEs
0
20
40
60
80
100
1 11 21 31 41 51 61 71 81 91 101
111
121
131
141
151
161
5acboys
5acgirls
Boys aged 17-
18
Girls aged 17-
18
Number Pass rate
Number Pass rate
English 22,628 93 53,077 94
Maths 33,543 87 20,024 91
Physics 21,991 89 5,988 92
French 4,637 93 10,651 91
Success rates in A Levels (England, 2000)
NCES maths & science participation in maths and
science activities opportunity to participate career expectations and
aspirations
Northern Ireland: A Level choice 10 year follow-up on A Level choice gender pattern:
increase for girls in Chemistry continuing low rate for girls in Physics
career expectations interest in medical-related no interest in engineering
Factors affecting gender & performance
familiarity with context of problem
link to socialization patterns impact on confidence
presentational style
Conclusions performance pattern changing over time
increasing performance levels faster rate of increase for girls
influence of equality measures other factors constraining performance
continuation of social and economic constraints
Northern Ireland review of selective system recommendations:
end academic selection promote formative assessment establish collaborative networks
of post-primary schools
