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| State schools 'making gender bias worse' | State schools 'making gender bias worse' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Almost half (49%) of state-funded mixed schools in England are "reinforcing gender stereotypes" in terms of the subjects students study at A-level. | Almost half (49%) of state-funded mixed schools in England are "reinforcing gender stereotypes" in terms of the subjects students study at A-level. |
| This is according to a report published on Monday by the Institute of Physics (IoP). | This is according to a report published on Monday by the Institute of Physics (IoP). |
| It says these schools are failing to counter the idea that certain subjects are for girls and others are for boys. | It says these schools are failing to counter the idea that certain subjects are for girls and others are for boys. |
| The institute is calling on schools to address the issue to avoid inadvertently limiting pupils' options. | The institute is calling on schools to address the issue to avoid inadvertently limiting pupils' options. |
| The study was based on the National Pupil Database. It looked at six A-level subjects - three that have a very female-biased student base and three that are studied by many more boys than girls. | The study was based on the National Pupil Database. It looked at six A-level subjects - three that have a very female-biased student base and three that are studied by many more boys than girls. |
| They assigned schools a score based on how well they were doing compared to the national average. | They assigned schools a score based on how well they were doing compared to the national average. |
| The analysis involved looking at what proportion of girls and boys from each school went on to study physics, maths and economics, which are traditionally male-biased, and what proportion went of to study the female-biased subjects - English, biology and psychology. | The analysis involved looking at what proportion of girls and boys from each school went on to study physics, maths and economics, which are traditionally male-biased, and what proportion went of to study the female-biased subjects - English, biology and psychology. |
| "We found that nearly half of the co-educational state-funded schools we looked are actually doing worse than average," explained Clare Thomson, curriculum and diversity manager at the Institute of Physics. | |
| "That means they're actually making this gender bias in terms of progression worse, rather than even meeting the national average. | "That means they're actually making this gender bias in terms of progression worse, rather than even meeting the national average. |
| Although the figures in this study are from a database of schools in England, the researchers say that similar gender bias is evident in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and that this likely to be a UK-wide issue. | Although the figures in this study are from a database of schools in England, the researchers say that similar gender bias is evident in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and that this likely to be a UK-wide issue. |
| Ms Thomson added that the research had shown that bias was much less of a problem in single sex schools. | Ms Thomson added that the research had shown that bias was much less of a problem in single sex schools. |
| "So we really want those mixed schools to think about this issue and see if there are ways they can address it," she told BBC News, "because it means that it's unfair for the students who are attending those schools." | "So we really want those mixed schools to think about this issue and see if there are ways they can address it," she told BBC News, "because it means that it's unfair for the students who are attending those schools." |
| Some schools are bucking this trend. | Some schools are bucking this trend. |
| Cheney School, a mixed, state-funded school in Oxford was one of 28 that received the highest score. | Cheney School, a mixed, state-funded school in Oxford was one of 28 that received the highest score. |
| Head teacher Jolie Kirby stressed the importance of male and female role models, including teachers and outside speakers to inspire the students. | Head teacher Jolie Kirby stressed the importance of male and female role models, including teachers and outside speakers to inspire the students. |
| "[People are] willing to come into school and talk about their careers and experiences," Mrs Kirby told BBC News. | "[People are] willing to come into school and talk about their careers and experiences," Mrs Kirby told BBC News. |
| "We have a number of staff in school that come from quite humble backgrounds, and they're able to talk about how they've challenged stereotypes in their own lives. | "We have a number of staff in school that come from quite humble backgrounds, and they're able to talk about how they've challenged stereotypes in their own lives. |
| "So I don't think it's about additional resources, I think it's about an approach that will work for students and young people and about bringing people into the school to help you with that." | "So I don't think it's about additional resources, I think it's about an approach that will work for students and young people and about bringing people into the school to help you with that." |
| And this does seem to be working. | And this does seem to be working. |
| One student, Emma, who is studying the very male-biased physics and maths at A-level, told BBC News: "It's never really occurred to me that, just because I'm a girl, I wouldn't be able to do these subjects." | One student, Emma, who is studying the very male-biased physics and maths at A-level, told BBC News: "It's never really occurred to me that, just because I'm a girl, I wouldn't be able to do these subjects." |