Women take record number of university places

According to new figures ‘women are 35% more likely to go to university than men.’ In an article by Sean Coughlan published today on the BBC News website:

‘The admissions service has highlighted the big differences in the characteristics of who gets places. The most likely are:

  • women
  • those living in London
  • those from more affluent families
  • those in non-white ethnic groups

Those most likely to be under-represented at university are poor, white males. White people, proportionate to their numbers in the population, are the least likely ethnic group to go to university, the admissions service says. And there would be an extra 36,000 male students at university if they entered at the same rate as female students.’

women at uni

 

Clever girls, stupid boys?

On 5th March 2015 Sean Coughlan (BBC Education Correspondent) explored education and gender stereotypes in his article – ‘Clever girls, stupid boys?’

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-31751667

‘Clever girls, stupid boys. That’s become something of a modern educational orthodoxy, as girls across the developed world are more likely to get top exam grades and university places.  The gap is so great that the UK’s university admissions authority has warned that being male could soon be seen as a new form of social disadvantage.’

clever girls

Clever girls lack confidence in science and maths

Today BBC Education Correspondent Sean Coughlan reports – ‘Girls still lack confidence in pursuing high-paid careers in science and technology, even when their school results are as good or better than boys.’

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-31733742

‘Mr Schleicher, the OECD’s education director, argues that it is not “about men and women doing similar work for different pay, but about men and women pursuing different careers”.

In particular, he says women are still “severely under-represented” in jobs related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, which can be among the highest earning careers. He says that “gender differences in self-confidence” could be the key difference. Even though girls might achieve better academic results, there is still a reluctance to apply for jobs.

There were also findings that parents were more likely to push boys towards careers in science and technology. “We may have lost sight of important social and emotional dimensions of learning that may be far more predictive for the future life choices of children,” said Mr Schleicher.’

A lack of self-confidence is a factor in whether women apply for jobs in science and technology, says study

A lack of self-confidence is a factor in whether women apply for jobs in science and technology, says study