Gender Gap In Devon Kids Maths Classes

Devon teachers say they are not against the idea of having separate Mathematics classes for boys and girls.

The idea of same sex groups are being suggested in parts of the county, as there's a gender gap in how well our kids are doing in the subject.

Andy Woolley from Devon NUT says it is worth a try but good staff cope either way: "teachers also have to differentiate between children of different abilities and coming from different starting points and many teachers are able to do that within the context of a mixed gender group."

Andy says we would need to monitor it carefully: "if a school thinks it is a good idea it is perhaps worth trying but what we've have to be careful about is that we are not jumping on the bandwagon and not substituting that from the proper differentiation that teachers need to do."