Girls’ maths results hit harder by Covid

Girls’ results in reading and maths were more negatively impacted than boys during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to analysis.

The study by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) and education provider Renaissance analysed six million assessments taken by pupils from year three to nine in 2022/23.

They say the findings show the pandemic has had a bigger effect on girls than boys in reading, although girls still perform better.

According to the research, in primary reading, the gap in attainment narrowed by one month, meaning girls are 3.1 months ahead of boys.

In secondary reading, the gap between girls and boys has narrowed by 1.2 months to 4.4 months.

In primary maths, results have fallen for both boys and girls, but girls have fallen further meaning the gap has widened by two months to 2.9 months in favour of boys.

The figures in secondary maths show results have fallen for both boys and girls, but the difference has narrowed by 3.6 months to just 0.3 months in favour of girls.

The study also found “substantial gaps” between geographic regions, with Yorkshire and Humber being the lowest performing region, with pupils 4.3 months behind peers in London in primary reading. Pupils in London saw their results increase the most, up by the equivalent of 1.4 months in primary reading.

Published: 18/03/2024 by Radio NewsHub