Boys leapfrogged women to attain extra of the very prime A-level grades this yr.
Overall, 9.1% of boys’ entries scored an A* grade, in contrast with 8.8% of ladies’ entries – a 0.3 share level hole.
This reverses a latest development – women had been forward within the prime consequence for the earlier three years.
But regardless of boys taking on at A* grades, women proceed to outperform their male counterparts by way of A*-A .
A-level figures printed by the Joint Council for Qualifications present 27.5% of ladies’ entries achieved an A grade or greater, in contrast with 26.9% for boys’ entries – a niche of 0.6 share factors.
This hole has narrowed on final yr, when it was 2.2 share factors.
And in 2019, there was no hole in any respect, with 25.4% of ladies and boys’ A-level entries scoring an A* or A grade.
The figures cowl England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
I’m significantly heartened to see women championing their very own futures
Donna Stevens, GSA
Donna Stevens, chief government of the Girls’ Schools Association stated: “I’m particularly heartened to see girls championing their own futures.
“By young women making their own ambition a priority they raise opportunity for every girl in the world, acting as positive agents of change and as role models.”
Geoff Barton, common secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) cautioned in opposition to studying an excessive amount of into gender gaps, saying: “The margins are so small.”
Asked concerning the influence of the previous few years he stated numerous younger individuals have “been affected in different ways”.
A breakdown of the A-level information exhibits women and boys are nonetheless choosing totally different topics.
The prime topic for boys was maths, adopted by physics, economics – as much as third from fifth final yr – biology and chemistry.
Meanwhile, psychology remained the topic hottest amongst women, adopted by biology, maths, sociology and chemistry.
Ms Stevens stated the distinction in reputation of topics could also be attributable to varied causes.
She stated: “It is interest to a large extent. But we also know it’s down to accessibility.
“Girls are significantly more likely to take further maths A-level or physics A-level in girls’ schools than if they’ve gone to a co-educational school.”