Girls are under-represented in physics post-16. They continue to make up only 22% of those taking A-level Physics, despite the many changes in the educational system over the last 20 years. This article looks at the work the Institute of Physics has undertaken to address the issue.
After outlining the key issues that were identified in work commissioned by the Institute, there is a brief summary of the action research carried out by teachers working with the Science Learning Centres, and the key themes that emerged from this work. It concludes with a discussion of the centrality of the teacher in the work of encouraging girls that 'physics can be for them'