18th October 2012 9:00
By Blue Tutors
The Institute of Physics has produced a worrying report this week, examining the progression of girls going on to study A’ level Physics. Although it is known that under 30% of girls take A’ Level Physics, the new study has analysed the uptake of girls from different kinds of schools. The study showed that 46% of schools did not send any girls on to do A’ Level Physics, and the figures from mixed state schools alone showed that half of the schools did not have any girls at all taking A’ Level Physics.
The report was keen to point out that the old argument that girls just don’t like Physics could no longer stand up. Private and girls schools managed to send 2.5 times as many girls on to do Physics, which the report says demonstrates that it is not simply the case that girls do not like the subject. It concludes that the ethos and environment of many co-educational schools was discouraging girls from taking Physics, and identified in particular the pervasive attitude that it was “odd” for girls to be interested in the subject.
The Institute of Physics have said this week that teachers need to ensure both that their own attitudes and remarks do not discourage girls, and that they take a hard line on sexist remarks from male students. The report concludes that teachers need to actively create an environment in which girls feel that they will be supported taking Physics A’ Level, before the numbers of girls who really do want to take Physics can accurately be assessed.