KS3/4 Vocational GCSEs - Getting girls – keeping boys
This Teachers TV video looks at the success of one specialist engineering school in maintaining a gender balance of pupils on engineering and construction courses through to GCSE. The challenge is seen as three-fold: attracting girls to these subjects, and sustaining their interest, without alienating boys.
The strategies adopted include whole school measures and classroom-based techniques, which, it is suggested, can be replicated in other schools. Ideas such as inviting in high-profile female role models to participate in teaching and learning, emphasising lucrative career options in the industry, and creating a pleasant working environment could do much to elevate the status of the subject for boys as well as girls. Other measures, such as the themed assemblies filmed for the programme, do raise questions of stereotyping which appear to run counter to the department’s stated aims. Throughout the programme, a number of throw-away comments, for example the suggestion that female teachers and pupils have a different perspective on engineering, could also be challenged and explored.
For these reasons, the programme should be viewed with a critical eye, and could stimulate useful debate for ITE sessions. This may provide a means to further the ‘chipping away’ of traditional attitudes, as referred to within the programme. The video also contributes to the development of a broader understanding of vocational courses, which are set to become increasingly common in the 14-19 curriculum.
Reviewed by:
Sue Field
Download this programme from the Teachers TV website
Article published to :
Topic Area
Diversity, Diversity
QTS Standards
Q1 Have high expectations of children and young people, Q18 Understand how children and young people develop, Q19 Know how to make effective personalised provision for those they teach, S1.1 High expectations of all pupils to raise their educational achievement, S2.4 Understand physical, intellectual, linguistic, social, cultural and emotional development, S3.1.2 Support pupils' varying needs so that girls and boys of all ethnic groups progress, S3.2.4 Identify/support pupils exceeding/working below their potential
Type of Resource
Field, Sue, Teachers TV, Video
Education
14-19, 14-19 Diplomas, Key Stage 4
Authors :
Teachers TV
Source :
www.teachers.tv/video/3136
Publisher :
Teachers TV
Article Id :
13172
Date Posted:
28/2/2007