If you have experience in a science teacher job in a secondary school, have you seen evidence of a gender bias? 

A new report published by the Institute of Physics has said that nearly half (49 per cent) of state-funded mixed schools in England are "reinforcing gender stereotypes" and having an impact on what subjects pupils choose to study at A-level.

It outlined the fact that teachers and schools are failing to address the idea that certain subjects are for boys, while girls should be picking other GCSE options.

Researchers took their data from the National Pupil Database and analysed the pupil numbers of six A-level subjects. They looked at what proportion of girls and boys from each school continued to study physics, maths and economics, which are traditionally male-biased, and what proportion studied female-biased subjects - in this case English, biology and psychology.

"We found that nearly half of the co-educational state-funded schools we looked are actually doing worse than average," explained Clare Thomson, curriculum and diversity manager at the Institute of Physics.

"That means they're actually making this gender bias in terms of progression worse, rather than even meeting the national average.

She told BBC News there was less of a bias in single-sex schools, so it shows that perceptions can be changed and mixed schools can find a way to treat their pupils fairly.

Responding to the report, education minister Elizabeth Truss said it was concerning as physics and maths are instrumental qualifications to a wide range of careers and these school choices could be wasting a lot of talent

In order to address the issue, the government will be working alongside schools to raise standards in maths, physics and computer science and ensure these subjects are viewed as universal skills.

What are your experiences of subject gender bias? How have you taken steps to address these issues in your classroom?