This week the government published the SATs results (officially known as Key Stage 2) for primary school children which test their ability to read, write and add up at 11, just before they go to secondary school.
While the headline figure shows that one in three don't make the grade (level 4), the report also highlights:
There is still a worrying number of children performing at a very low level. One in 10 boys leave primary school with the reading age of a seven-year-old and one in 14 boys leave with the writing age of a seven-year-old.
The government minister (Nick Gibb) said: "We are determined to raise standards of reading. There will always be some children for whom reading is a struggle. However, we can and must do much better for the one in 10 boys who at the age of eleven can read no better than a seven-year-old."
The results in detail are:
- English 81% (86% for girls, 77% for boys)
- Reading 84% (87% for girls, 80% for boys)
- Writing 75% (81% for girls, 68% for boys)
- Mathematics 80% (80% for girls, 80% for boys).
This shows there is a clear gender education gap in English, reading and writing (not Maths) and whilst at least this government recognises it, it is doing absolutely nothing to remedy it. It says it is an issue and then walks away.
As shown, many schools are not bothered and also we know that the Equalities and Human Rights Commission and the Government's joke Equalities Department are not interested.
But more so when do you see the Department for Education running a massive study into why it is happening and then bring in policies to remedy it?
The government is bothered about the alleged gender pay gap and the alleged gender boardroom gap but does absolutely nothing to tackle the gender education gap.
It proves beyond all doubt that men and boys remain firmly second class citizens in the UK and it is a situation the government is quite happy with.
Posted by Skimmington
A really well presented and clear analysis of the situation.
To be completely fair there is evidence that males are somewhat better suited to mathematics and girls to writing. However gender differences tend to be fairly small, especially at younger ages therefore sexism surely has to be by far the main cause
Similarly if our education system wasn't failing boys then just as you'd expect a small naturally occurring gap in linguistic abilities favouring girls, you'd also see the opposite in maths. Therefore the equal level of performance here would suggest boys are being failed in this area also.
Perhaps people might like to contact Mr Gibb to ask him how he's going to solve the problems:
Tel: 01243 587016 / House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA. Email: [email protected]
Posted by: John Kimble | Friday, 05 August 2011 at 01:31
Education is feminism biased.........
Posted by: Explore Nature | Tuesday, 21 February 2012 at 04:24