The best blogs I’ve read in the last week – published in Academies Week

Why Girls Tend to Get Better Grades Than Boys Do by Enrico Gnaulati

“Teachers and parents need to be reminded of a well-kept secret,” Gnaulati begins. “Across all grade levels and academic subjects, girls earn higher grades than boys.” Why is this? What should be done? Compellingly summarising research on “conscientiousness”, the author notes that girls display a level of self-discipline on entering kindergarten a year ahead of that shown by boys. I found the diagnosis convincing, the proposed remedy, focusing on American grading practices, less so.

A plea for the return of complexity and nuance to education policy by @Disidealist

Continued in Top Blogs of the Week: Week commencing 24 October, 2014