Evaluation

• 'Boys achievement'


  Boys achievement might be behind girls but it is improving, Tracey McVeigh argues that the similarities in girls' and boys' achievement are far greater than the differences. For example, the class gap in achievement at GCSE is three times wider than the gender gap. Gender affects achievement but it varies depending on a pupil's class and ethnic group, the gender gap amongst black Caribbean pupils is greater than among other ethnic groups.
•  'Moral panic about boys'


  Ringrose argues that a moral panic about the underachievement of boys has developed which has led to a shift in educational policy from supporting girls' achievement: she criticises this approach for failing to consider the problem of disadvantaged working class and minority ethnic pupils and ignoring other problems faced by girls in school, e.g bullying, sexual harassment, stereotypical subject choice and identity issues.