Reassessing Gender and Achievement

Becky Francis, Christine Skelton

'This book leaves readers with the assertion that a commitment to diminishing gender differences is closely aligned to facilitating achievement for both boys and girls in schools. In this sense, it raises important questions about the processes of degendering and regendering that need to occur in order to address the limits imposed by the remasculinization of schooling that are engendered by the forces of neo-liberalism and their legitimation through educational policy.'- Wayne Martino, Faculty of Education, The University of Western Ontario,Canada'Francis and Skelton provide an excellent overview of the various theories and explanatory frameworks that have been mobilized for making sense of gender differences in achievement.'- Wayne Martino, Faculty of Education, The University of Western Ontario,Canada

• 1. Introduction 2. Perspectives on Gender and Achievement 3. The Construction of Gender and Achievement in Education Policy 4. Evaluating ‘Boys’ Underachievement’ 5. Explaining Gender Differences in Achievement: Explanation 1 - Boys and girls are born with different interests, motivations and abilities; Explanation 2 - Boys and girls have different learning styles; Explanation 3 - Schools are ‘feminized’ and this disadvantages boys; Explanation 4 - Assessment procedures and teaching practices are biased towards girls; Explanation 5 - That pupils’ constructions of gender manifest in different behaviours which impact on achievement 6. What Has Happened to the Girls? 7. The Future for Boys and Girls? (Re)constructions of gender and achievement 8. Raising Achievement: What ‘works in the classroom?