Research at Bristol University found that boys score up to a tenth of a grade worse than girls in English in mixed classes and that at Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 3, girls have a significant advantage over boys in English.
The study, presented at the Royal Economic Society's annual conference last week, examined SATs results of children in state schools at KS1 to KS3 between 1998 and 2004.
Steven Proud from the university's Centre for Market and Public Organisation, the author of the report, said that for both sexes to benefit, different teaching methods should be used for each. 'Teachers should be given more explicit training to enhance both boys' and girls' performance,' he said.
He also called for there to be more male teachers, as existing research suggests the sex of a teacher affects children's academic performance.
The report said that because of girls' performance, it may appear that the whole class is performing at an acceptable level.
It said this could be down to teaching styles that benefit females, if there is a larger proportion of girls in a class.
The research also found that boys have a slight advantage in maths and science and do better in these subjects in a more female environment, whereas girls would benefit from an all-female class and participate more without a disruptive influence from boys.
Janet Moyles, professor emeritus and early years consultant, said, 'In KS1 at least, it is less to do with whether girls and boys are in mixed classes, than with the different learning styles of boys and girls. It is well known that boys in general need their learning to be embedded in, and enhanced through, physical activity, whereas girls are in general happier in more sedentary states.'
