Researchers examined the gender gap in higher education participation among young people in England. The 2005-06 figures showed a 7.2 percentage participation gap in favour of women – a gap which appeared to continue to widen.
Source: Stijn Broecke and Joseph Hamed, Gender Gaps in Higher Education Participation: An analysis of the relationship between prior attainment and young participation by gender, socio-economic class and ethnicity, Research Report 08-14 Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (020 7215 5555)
Links: Report | Guardian report
Date: 2008-Jun
An article examined empirical studies reporting that the 'advantage' in training incidence previously enjoyed by men had been reversed. The greater part of the gender 'gap' in training was found to derive from differences in occupation, industry, and sector. However, the increased training incidence among females over time was not explained by changes in characteristics, and suggested preferences for training might have changed.
Source: Melanie Jones, Paul Latreille and Peter Sloane, 'Crossing the tracks? Trends in the training of male and female workers in Great Britain', British Journal of Industrial Relations, Volume 46 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Jun
The education inspectorate in Wales said that schools needed to focus on improving the basic literacy skills of boys in order to start closing the gap between boys' and girls' attainment in schools.
Source: Closing the Gap between Boys' and Girls' Attainment in Schools, HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales (029 2044 6446)
Links: Report | HMCIETW press release
Date: 2008-Mar
A study used exogenous changes in the proportion of girls within school cohorts to estimate the effect of a more female peer group. Large significant negative effects were found of a more female peer group on boy's outcomes in English. In maths and science, both boys and girls benefited from a more able peer group up to age 11.
Source: Steven Proud, Girl Power? An analysis of peer effects using exogenous changes in the gender make-up of the peer group, Working Paper 08/186, Centre for Market and Public Organisation/University of Bristol (0117 954 6943)
Links: Working paper
Date: 2008-Feb
A report said that women students and students from from ethnic minorities got lower-than-expected degree classifications. Institutions in higher education needed to help close the gap by implementing systems to evaluate, review, and (where required) re-design their teaching/learning/assessment activities.
Source: Ethnicity, Gender and Degree Attainment Project: Final report, Higher Education Academy (01904 717500)
Links: Report | HEA press release | UCU press release | Guardian report | BBC report
Date: 2008-Jan