More female pupils lack confidence when studying mathematics and science than their male peers, a survey has suggested.
The gender confidence gap poses a “threat” to the UK’s future science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) workforce, education charity Teach First has warned.
A poll, commissioned by Teach First, found two in five (40%) pupils said they did not enjoy learning maths in school and 30% said they did not enjoy learning science.
Among the pupils who reported not enjoying maths in school, more than half of female pupils (54%) said they did not feel confident in learning maths, compared to two-fifths (41%) of male pupils.
The gap was even wider among pupils who said they did not enjoy science in school – with more than four in ten girls (43%) not confident compared with just about a quarter of boys (26%).
The findings come ahead of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on Sunday.
More than 1,000 young people – aged between 11 and 16 – from across the UK took part in the YouGov poll between November 3 and November 10.
Teach First has warned the imbalance in learning confidence is a concern for the future of Stem as they say poor gender diversity will exacerbate the skills shortage facing the sector.
The charity is calling for more high-quality Stem teachers to be recruited and trained to inspire the next generation to work in the Stem sector.
