Boys trail girls in English at school

LONDON, Mar 1 (Reuters) Teenage boys are still trailing behind girls at school, with two-thirds failing to achieve expected standards in English, government figures showed today.

Just 65 percent of 14-year-old boys managed to reach the expected level 5 standard in English compared to 80 percent of girls in Key Stage 3 tests last year.

Schools Minister Jim Knight said increased ''personalised learning'' in schools would help close the gender gap.

''It is important to recognise that girls are doing better than boys across the industrialised world,'' he said.

''I am determined that we enthuse and engage boys in English but this is about taking a far broader approach in schools and Government than simply using stereotyped 'fighting and football' texts.

''Only through better targeting of individual learners and driving up the progression of all pupils can we stretch the more advanced pupils and prevent others from falling behind,'' he added.

Overall, 73 percent of 14-year-olds achieved Level 5 or above in English, a fall of one percentage point from the previous year.

In Maths 77 percent of pupils hit level 5, up from 74 percent, while there was also a rise in Science to 72 percent from 70 percent.

The gender gap in Maths and Science was much narrower at one and two percentage points respectively.

The Department for Education and Skills said 90 percent of secondary schools were now meeting a target for at least half their pupils to reach level five or above in English, Maths and Science.

Some 320 schools failed to meet the target, 90 fewer than 2005 and 1,003 fewer than in 1998.

REUTERS DH RN0637