Historically, girls have outperformed boys across education phases. However, there is significant variation in the size of the gender gap by subject, as well as by phase, and how these gender gaps change over time. For example, boys’ attainment in maths is closer to that of girls compared with other subjects, and at the end of primary school boys outperform girls in maths. More information on gaps by subject can be found in our 2023 Annual Report.
Figure G1: The gender gap widened in 2024 for pupils aged 5 and 11 (in favour of girls) but remains stable at the end of key stage 4
Early years foundation stage
The gender gap among pupils aged 5 is already quite marked, though remains smaller than the disadvantage gap: girls were 3.3 months ahead of boys in 2024 (compared to a disadvantage gap of 4.7 months). The early years gender gap in 2024 was slightly larger than in 2023 and 0.4 months larger than pre-pandemic, returning to its 2016 level. Prior to the pandemic, the gap had been on a downward trend, falling by around one month since the start of our series in 2013.
Primary school
Despite the substantial reduction in the gender gap observed in 2023, it has recently widened to 1 month in 2024, an increase of 0.4 months. Based on official statistics, the increase in the key stage 2 gap since 2023 may have been partly due to a higher rise in the percentage of girls meeting the expected standard in reading, which was 1 per cent higher than boys.
Secondary school
As children advance through primary school, the gender gap gradually narrows. However, on entering secondary school, this gap begins to widen once more. The gender gap in secondary schools has remained unchanged since 2023: boys are still 4.5 months behind girls averaging across GCSE English and maths. This remains the narrowest gap recorded since the beginning of our series in 2011, when our analysis showed a gender gap of 5.6 months. Despite the apparent stable gap in 2024, official (Progress 8) statistics show that girls have been making steadily less progress during secondary school in every year since 2019. The closing of this gap is mainly driven by the falling attainment of girls, rather than increases for boys. If the trend continues at this pace, girls’ progress will have fallen behind that of boys by 2029.
Figure G2: Since 2019 the progress that girls make during secondary school has been steadily declining relative to boys
16-19 education
In 16-19 education, female students achieved around a grade and a half higher than male students in 2024, across their best three qualifications. This is similar to the gap observed in 2023
Since 2019, 16-19 attainment increased a little for both male and female students, but at a slightly higher rate for boys, leading to the narrowing gap. Attainment for both male and female students was at a similar level to 2023 in 2024.
Figure G3: The 16-19 gender gap is unchanged since 2023, and is at a similar level to the pre-pandemic gaps
Foreword & EXECUTIVE SUMMARYDisadvantage
genderGeoGraphic Disadvantage Gaps