Some Sociologists aruge that the main reason for different educational achievement is the gender of a student. This is because over the last 20 years there has been an increase in women doing better than men in GCSE resutls. This could be because of an introduction of coursework which girls are better at than boys. Additionally girls are seen to do better in school due to not getting involved in laddish subcultures, laddish subcultures occur when boys think it is not cool to do well in education and as such show off in front of their friends. Some Sociologists argue that especially working class boys do not do as well in school due to having a lack of role model in schools where most teaching staff (especially at primary school level) are female. Another reason that girls tend to achieve more in school is due to a different attitude in the socialisation of girls, girls are seen to be more vulnerable and are less likely to be allowed out at night time to socilaise with their friends, this means they are more likely to stay at home in their bedrooms and revise together. Boys are seen to be more robust and will be more likely to spend more time out of the household. Finally there has been a change in the ambitions of women over the last 30 years, although some feminists would disagree, women have become more ambitious for a career out of the home, there has been a decline in the number born and an increase in the age in which a women has her first child, this could be due to starting a career. This relates to education as women see role models as succesful business women as opposed to mothers and aunts who stay at home.

On the other hand however there are many other reasons that lead to gender differences in education, these for example are social class background. Material depravation may lead to students not being able to achieve in school as they live in over crowded and uncomfortable conditions

and are not able to complete homework or even read or revise at home. Another reason is students from poverty backgrounds may not have a good diet and will often come to school without breakfast or having a healthy meal at home and are more likely to get poorly and have time off school leading to underachievement. Another reason a child may not achieve due to their background in school is due to a lack of being able to go on school trips to enrich their curriculum.

However, in schools today there has been an introduction of policys to help students such as Free School Meals and also Pupil Premium, local sure starts also provide free fruit and veg to poorer familes and also school uniforms and home visits.

Overall sociologists do disagree on what causes differential educational achievement, some would agree that it is due to gender roles and the differences in socialisation, others however would argue that other factors such as material and cultural factors are to blame.

You have discussed in detail the different opinions that different sociological groups may have on this matter, you have also discussed other possibilities to why girls are doing better than boys other than just social-norms that are formed around gender.

What have you learned from this answer?

I have learned the different reasons that there may be a gender difference in the GCSEs levels of both male and female students, for example there is a plausible chance that the grades between boys and girls may be diew to the finance backgrounds of the students.

How many marks would you give this answer?

11/12 this is because the answer is well structured and it provides an appropriate answer to the question and a counter argument to the point within the question.

What have you learned from this answer: I have learnt that there are different reasons why there is a relationship between gender and GCSE results for example over the last 20 years girls there has been an increase in girls doing better than boys in their GCSE's. This could be because there has been an introduction of coursework which girls outperform in more than boys.

How many marks would you give this answer: 11/12 as this answer includes lots of detail and provides many examples.

I have learnt a lot of reasons supporting why gender has a relationship with the results of GCSE levels between males and females, for example I learnt that girls were more likely do to well in GCSEs that requires course work because girls were better at it that boys.

What have I learned: I have learned that one of the reasons that girls achieve higher than boys in school is that girls tend to stay home whilst boys are going out as boys are seen as less vulnerable to attacks ect than girls. Staying at home gives girls more time to revise, therefore getting them better grades.

What could be improved: This response could be improved if examples of sociologists (eg. Functionalists, marxists etc) were included in the response.