Gender difference:Girls are now outperforming boys in every major subject at Leaving Certificate and are accounting for 6,000 more A-grades at honours and ordinary level than their male counterparts. With the exception of Italian, agricultural economics, engineering and construction studies, girls have moved farther ahead of boys in a list boasting over 34 honours-level subjects.
On the expansive canvass of passes and failures, girls accounted for over 6,275 A1s at higher level, compared to 4,078 A1s for boys.
While girls acquired some 14,052 A1s and A2s at higher level, boys trailed them by 4,808 A1s and A2s. At ordinary level, boys accounted for twice the number of "no grades" (NG) as girls and obtained substantially more F, E and D grades.
In subjects such as physics, chemistry, maths and business which were previously perceived as male strongholds, girls are again surpassing their male counterparts. One of the widest gaps to emerge between girls and boys is in the subject area of home economics where 75 per cent of girls achieved an honour at higher-level compared to 60 per cent of boys.
The trend at ordinary level is similar. Worryingly, almost 14 per cent of boys taking ordinary-level maths failed the subject, making entry to a third-level course very difficult for such candidates.
Of grave concern for industry and government is the fact that 20 per cent of boys undertaking physics and chemistry at ordinary level failed the subject, in addition to the 16 per cent who failed biology and the 14 per cent who failed home economics.
Likewise at honours level, 8 per cent of boys failed both physics and chemistry, while 6 per cent of girls failed physics and chemistry.
This is despite the huge emphasis by Government on the need to create a knowledge-based economy boasting students with a wide range of science and mathematical skills.
Of the 25 subjects listed by the State Examinations Commission at ordinary level, boys only achieved a greater percentage of honours than girls in four subjects.
A surprise however, is the fact that almost one in five girls who sat religious education at ordinary level failed the subject.
At honours-level maths, the gap between boys and girls has widened this year following a narrowing of the gap last year. While 79 per cent of girls achieved an honour in higher-level maths in 2005, this has increased to 85 per cent this year, while 80 per cent of boys achieved an honour.
The increase in honours awarded in maths follows a deluge of complaints from teacher unions, Opposition parties and parents in the aftermath of the second maths paper on June 12th.
Critics of the paper said it marked an attempt to test material not on the syllabus and to challenge students reliant on grind-school notes.