Girls’ Safety and Engagement in Schools Decline, Research Finds
Females in England are feeling less secure at school and are increasingly less engaged with their education, recent research indicates. Analysts from University College London (UCL) used data from an international study on primary and secondary school students and discovered a notable decrease in emotional engagement among girls since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The study pointed out that even though many countries have seen drops in students’ feelings of belonging, safety, and pride, England witnessed one of the most significant decreases among girls in Year 9 (ages 13-14), which was notably worse than for boys.
Professor John Jerrim from UCL’s social research institute pointed out that the changes may be connected to school closures during the pandemic, which may have also led to a reduction in girls’ enjoyment and confidence, affecting their peer relationships. He expressed concern that this could ultimately result in higher absence rates and reduced educational achievement among girls.
In 2019, 43% of girls in England strongly felt safe at school; this number dropped to 21% in the most recent survey in 2023. For boys, the percentage fell from 41% to 31% over the same period. Additionally, girls experienced a greater decline in sense of belonging and pride in their schools compared to boys.
The age group most affected appeared to be girls in Year 9, who would have experienced the final year of primary school when the pandemic began, with prolonged school closures for many.
UCL research also found that boys in Year 5 and Year 9 scored higher than girls in math and science in recent international assessments. Before the pandemic, girls’ absence rates were similar to those of boys, but since 2020, persistent absence has increased more among girls.
The researchers noted a link between declining emotional engagement and pupil absences, suggesting that those who feel less engaged are more likely to skip school. Similar declines in attitude were observed in Finland, Ireland, and Sweden, and there has been speculation in the US that the post-pandemic behavioral issues have led to more attention being given to boys by teachers.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson addressed the behavior of boys as a significant issue, partially blaming smartphones for the pitfalls, including the spread of disinformation and exposure to negative role models. She also called for more male teachers to combat these behaviors, pointing out the disproportionate number of male educators in schools. Recently, the debate around misogyny among school-age boys has been reignited, partly due to the Netflix series "Adolescence."
