AM calls for action on Boys-Girls Divide in Education

5.42.57pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 29th Aug 2007

Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Education, Kirsty Williams AM, has raised her concern at findings that boys are turning away from Higher Education. The report by Sutton Trust think-tank found that almost double the number of boys as girls felt that they were unlikely to go to university.

Of the 2,400 11-16 year olds surveyed across England and Wales 76% of girls replied that they felt likely to go onto University compared to only 67% of boys.

Kirsty commented "It is greatly concerning that one in three boys compared to one in five girls have said that they do not want to go to university as they do not enjoy learning. This parallels the ever increasing problem of boys underperforming girls at GCSE level which now appears to have extended into a worrying gap in their attitudes towards higher education."

"While girls have highlighted the need to work hard and aim high boys feel that it is networking that is the key to success, these differing attitudes seem to reflect the differing level of achievement of the two sexes in school. The difficult question is whether it is as a result of this poor view of their capabilities that boys are underachieving in exams."

"I am pleased that following calls from the Liberal Democrats for over two years the Welsh Assembly Government has finally moved for an enquiry into the gap between the two sexes exam results. It is vital however that the process is carried out as quickly as possible so that the government can act to reverse this trend towards young boy's low aspirations."

"The Liberal Democrats strongly believe that every young adult should have equal access to Higher Education, with the ever increasing Labour Government's University fees, students from non-privileged backgrounds already face too many hurdles without the rise of this worrying outlook from our young boys."