§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to address gender differences in A-level results. [8180]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisOur goal is, of course, that students of both genders fulfil their potential in higher education and the employment market. We are aware that boys' performance in the main A-level subjects has not equalled that of girls in recent years. The foundations for improvement need to be laid at earlier stages of schooling. That is why we have put resources into pre-16 initiatives that enhance boys' performance, such as the literacy strategy. We also have a major research project under way to identify successful strategies for raising boys' achievement that can be disseminated more widely. Examples of good practice are already being made available online to schools.