I am still asked this every month, so let me answer briefly first: exactly as well. Across more than 4,000 students I have never seen a difference in ability between girls and boys.
What genuinely differs is not ability
I have observed two real differences, and neither is about the brain.
1. Girls more often ask "is this for someone like me?" before starting
Boys more often try first and think later. This does not come from nature but from the pictures around them — if every programmer a child sees is male, a girl does not see herself in the picture.
2. Girls more often choose projects that help someone
In my experience girls gravitate to programs that serve people: a medication reminder, a revision planner. Boys more often start with games.
This matters practically. If a curriculum is nothing but game briefs, some girls conclude "this is not for me", when in fact the brief simply did not match their interests.
Which is why our students always choose their own project topics, and are never required to build a game.
Three things parents can do
- Show her women in the field. Not necessarily famous ones — a teacher, an aunt in IT, an older student is plenty.
- Do not say "clever — and a girl too". It is kindly meant and tells her she is an exception. Praise her as you would praise anyone.
- Let her pick her own projects, for the reason above.
A personal note
When I started seventeen years ago, I was often the only woman in the room, and I was once asked whether I was the admin assistant when I had come to build the system.
It is much better now, and I would like this generation of girls never to face that question. The only way there is enough girls entering the field that nobody is surprised any more.
Our gold medallists include both girls and boys — the real names are published on our competition results page.
