ABSTRACT
Design and technology should ostensibly be a ‘boys’ subject’, or at least one where boys should achieve as well as girls. At first glance the characteristics of design and technology totally satisfy the VEST formula discussed in Chapter 3 —Variety of teaching style, Engagement on the task, Social learning and Transforming. Nothing could be more likely to please and interest boys. Boys like doing things rather than listening, copying or writing. Boys like clear, short-term goals. Boys like working in groups. Unfortunately, the figures show that in recent GCSE results the boys have been considerably out-performed by the girls. What has gone wrong, and what can be done about it?
