WHY boys perform worse at GCSE level in Powys than girls is a question that has been pondered by the Learning and Skills Scrutiny Committee.

Of 1,229 pupils who sat their GCSEs last summer 579 were female and 650 male.

A report to the committee stated: “The performance of boys is significantly lower than girls in the core subjects, and the difference in attainment has increased.

Cllr Lucy Roberts (Conservative – Llandrinio) asked: “We’re still seeing a big difference between boys and girls. What are we trying to do to improve that?”

Education officer, Lynette Lovell, said that last year the gulf between the genders was most apparent in English and Welsh language.

And that changes to the English language exams saw a big difference in the marks needed to get a C, in the summer or November papers.

“Those C/D borderlines of which many were boys there was a issue with the points difference in getting the C grade, so that had an impact in a couple of our schools in particular,” said Ms Lovell.

Education portfolio holder, Cllr Myfanwy Alexander (Banwy – Independent) said: “Some of our schools are trying to share best practice and sometimes it’s down to the books you choose to study in English or Welsh.

“The books do tend to appeal to one gender.

“All we can do is share what works, if you get an external shock like this (English) exam it does tend to hit the boys worse.

“It’s about keeping the pupils’ interest, if they have one or two subjects that they are really keen on, it helps raise their level of attainment across the board.”

Lay committee member Angela Davies asked if the data on the issue had been collected?

Education officer, Eurig Towns, added: “We know which schools are good, and we’ve had their headteachers in to give us a data presentation.

“Books choice is down to the teachers teaching the subject. It’s down to which ones appeal to them and they think they can inspire their pupils with.”

Mr Towns added  that changes to the exam system, where only one counts, had been hitting boys.

“In previous years they were able to take ones in November, take re-sits later on and improve. Now it’s just the one and it’s hitting the boys.”