UK: Boys left behind girls at school from just age five

Article here. Excerpt:

'Boys lag behind girls at school from an early age, according to a new study.

The gender gap can be detected as early as age five, when small children attend Reception year at school.

Researchers found that 42pc of boys from a poor background started school with a language level that is considered below the basic standard. In comparison, only 27pc of girls from a similar background exhibited poor communication.

And while children from weathlier households had a better language skills when they started school, the gender divide was still in evidence, with a quarter of boys displaying inadequate speech skills versus just 15pc of girls.'