In the 1980s there was less than one percent difference between the numbers of girls and boys getting five high grade GCSEs. Today, the gap has soared to 15% in favour of girls. Girls now do better than boys in every subject, and the most dramatic difference is in the English language. Follow Profesor Debra Myhill of Exeter University, an English specialist who has studied the lower achievement of boys over a period of years. Her work is very action oriented; meaning she works closely with schools to see what can be done to improve things in the classroom. Discover how massive changes to our economy have meant the disappearance of traditional male jobs and how present day employers now seek workers in service industries and media with good communication skills which means these employers tend to favour girls.

Video Series: Hot Research
Release Date 2005