Girls outperform boys in engineering BTECs
But statistics also show that girls are less keen to go down the vocational route
- Published in News.
Girls forge ahead performance-wise, but too few choose the vocational route
Girls studying BTECs at level 2 outperform boys across most subjects, including many traditionally regarded as ‘boys’ subjects’, statistics published by education specialist Pearson have revealed.
A greater percentage of girls achieved the top marks compared to boys in subjects including business, construction and engineering.
But the data also shows that girls are not persuaded by the case for taking more vocational routes. Boys continue to make up the majority of students in these subjects, with girls representing 6% of students in engineering at level 2 and just 4% at level 3.
On overall performance at level 2, the data shows:
- In engineering 28% of girls secured a distinction compared to 16% of boys
- In construction and the built environment 18% of girls secured a distinction, compared to 7% of boys.
The pattern is replicated at level 3 (A-level equivalent):
- 39% of girls awarded a BTEC level 3 in engineering achieved the highest possible grade, compared to 29% of male learners
- 48% of girls awarded a BTEC level 3 in construction achieved the highest possible grade, compared to 34% of male learners.
Rod Bristow, president of Pearson UK, said: “I hope these figures will give more girls the confidence to see careers in business, construction and engineering as within their reach. A learner’s gender should never influence the subjects they study nor be treated as an indicator as to how well they will perform.