Science careers not 'the preserve of men'
Teenaged girls must not be allowed to feel that maths and science subjects are "the preserve of men", says England's Education Secretary.
Nicky Morgan says only by tackling "tired stereotypes" about science careers will the gender pay gap between men and women be "eliminated".
She highlighted that fewer than one in five girls who get an A* in physics GCSE go on to study it at A-level.
Ms Morgan is backing a campaign to boost the take-up of science A-levels.
Speaking at the launch of the Your Life campaign in London, Ms Morgan said: "Even a decade ago, young people were told that maths and the sciences were simply the subjects you took if you wanted to go into a mathematical or scientific career, if you wanted to be a doctor, or a pharmacist, or an engineer.
"But if you wanted to do something different... then the arts and humanities were what you chose. Because they were useful for all kinds of jobs.
"Of course, now we know that couldn't be further from the truth, that the subjects that keep young people's options open and unlock doors to all sorts of careers are the Stem subjects: science, technology, engineering and maths."
She added: "Only 19% of girls who achieved an A* in GCSE physics went on to study it at A-level. And whilst the figure for boys is better, it's still under half.
"There's the same issue with maths. Fewer than two-thirds of girls who achieved an A* in maths GCSE went on to study it at A-level.
"And yet maths, as we all know, is the subject that employers value most, helping young people develop skills which are vital to almost any career.
"And you don't just have to take my word for it - studies show that pupils who study maths to A-level will earn 10% more over their lifetime.
"These figures show us that too many young people are making choices aged 15, which will hold them back for the rest of their life."
She claimed the government had already made significant progress, with 1,000 more girls studying physics every year and 2,000 more girls studying maths.
It was imperative, she said, that the myths around Stem (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects be tackled, adding: "Because they're not stuffy, boring subjects for people who don't get outdoors much.
"Far from it - they're the keys to the most cutting edge, fast-paced areas of work and they're behind some of the most exciting new developments in this country and around the world."
The Your Life campaign aims to raise the number of students studying maths and physics at A-level by 50% within three years.
The chairman of Your Life, Edwina Dunn, said: "In a changing world dominated by technology, it is the skills learned from studying mathematics and science that will matter most.
"Yet these are exactly the subjects that the vast majority of 16-year-olds are turning away from - put off by the misconception that maths and science aren't relevant to their future."