IET responds to OECD findings that girls still trail boys in maths

The maths ability of teenage girls in the UK trails behind that of boys, according to figures from the OECD.

Stephanie Fernandes, IET Principal Policy Advisor, said: “This report yet again highlights the UK's gender gap in maths, with girls performing worse than boys.

“There are all kinds of theories about the reasons behind this – many focusing on boys having greater confidence than girls when it comes to tackling complex maths problems.

“But these confidence issues are also causing a bigger problem for professions like engineering that are struggling to attract the brightest talent: they are limiting the number of girls who progress to maths at A Level.

“Maths is a crucial stepping stone for careers in engineering and technology. Today, only 7 per cent of engineers are women. So it’s vital that we inspire and encourage more female students, to achieve better in maths so that we challenge the archaic view that engineering ‘isn’t for women’.

“Winners of our Young Woman Engineer of the Year Award point to the fact that engineering is for women and can pave the way to a range of rewarding, challenging and creative careers This kind of inspiration is key to encouraging more girls into STEM subjects.”

Ends

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