• Reading and listening are predominately left- brain activities.
• Boys' left hemisphere is slower than girls, therefore boys are disadvantaged during lessons dominated by listening and textbook activities (Boys attract 60% teacher attention in mixed classes)
• There is the perception that boys are `picked on' unfairly by teachers which leads to them switching off. Research has shown that teachers have a lower tolerance level of poor behaviour in boys and react differently to poor behaviour of boys v girls. Girls are more likely to be nudged quietly into compliance whereas boys will be challenged loudly and publicly to conform
• Boys are are less inclined than girls to learn from indifferent teaching (Ofsted)
• In banding and setting arrangements it may be predominately boys in the lower sets
• Research suggests that the gender gap may widen at KS4

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