Raising Boys Achievement

This book gives practical help to anybody who wishes to learn anything about the practical and accessible ways to raise boys' achievement in primary and secondary schools. Its down-to-earth language, easy style and rational sequencing of actions will appeal to all readers. This is essentially a handbook that can be used for reference, background reading, planning, preparing arguments, essays or as a general introduction to one of the most pressing issues in education today. The authoritative case studies and clear explanations of what to do and how to do it will be a boon to all readers. It discusses why some boys underachieve, what can be done to raise achievement, and how current national strategies aim to address the problem. It is aimed at headteachers, heads of department, ITT students, governors and parents in all phases of education.

Based on case studies and observations in the school setting, the contributors to this study examine ways in which boys can be guided towards better achievement academically. They offer a range of practical solutions to a persistent problem.

Within the context of empirical research undertaken by the authors during the course of a 4-year research and intervention project on Raising Boys’ Achievement, the book will focus on approaches that are successful in raising achievement for boys, and the reasons for that success. It will explore the whole aspect of boys’ achievement, and look at how primary schools are addressing the issue, and the processes involved in schools working collaboratively and voluntarily to share good practice. Case study material will be used to illustrate the different contexts in which the strategies have been studied, and of great importance is the incorporation of boys’ and girls’ own perspectives on their educational experiences.

Based on sound research and experience by leading author Gary Wilson, this Pocket PAL provides and introduction to why boys underachieve along with a practical toolkit of proven strategies to help raise boys' attainment across all age boundaries, enabling every teacher, department, key stage or school to identify the problems and plan a way forward.

The definitive guide to raising boys' achievement in secondary schools by leading expert Gary Wilson. What better way to raise boys' achievement than to hear the issues from the students themselves? Let's Hear It from the Boys encourages readers to take matters into their own hands and listen to the boys in their school. Gary Wilson offers tips to help start a conversation with boys, and guides secondary teachers in placing the needs of boys firmly on the whole-school agenda. It's a well-known fact that girls outperform boys across every stage of the UK education system. Of the boys who underachieve, white working-class boys are consistently in last place. In this unique practical guide to raising boys' achievement in secondary settings, Gary lets the students do the talking through real-life testimonies. Tackling various aspects of learning in the secondary classroom, from exams, essay-writing and academic setting to punishments and rewards, this book offers a fresh perspective on boys' experiences of education, helping teachers to understand the various reasons why boys may underachieve and how teachers can tackle this. Complete with expert advice and practical strategies, it will spark new ideas in teachers and school leaders to support boys in their settings and create the best learning environment for all students.

Educators have for many years sought to understand why boys underperform in schools and what can be done about it. In Breaking through barriers to boys' achievement, Gary Wilson provides the full picture as to why boys of all ages underachieve and what can be done to start solving the problem. He presents the 28 barriers to boys' learning, including early language development, 'laddish' culture and lack of male role models. His emphasis is very much on turning out respectable young men who have a 'caring masculinity'. The second edition of this ground-breaking book includes revised and updated case studies, data and practical tips and advice on how to raise boys' achievement. You will find tried-and-tested strategies which will help you to: - effectively engage boys in the life of the school - engage boys in the curriculum, with particular emphasis on literacy - create the right culture for learning - develop emotional intelligence in boys - develop self-esteem - provide opportunities for reflection - turn the 'peer police' into a positive force for good - teach in ways that will hit all the right buttons for boys, but will not disadvantage girls Breaking through barriers to boys' achievement provides a practical toolkit that will enable every teacher, department, key stage or school to determine precisely which barriers impinge upon their work with boys and to plan a way forward. It also provides a range of whole-school models for developing effective projects for raising boys' achievement.

At least once a year, around the time of examination results, the papers are full of stories of how boys are underachieving in comparison to girls. While arousing the curiosity, and often deeply troubling the parents of boys, the press, and indeed the government, rarely offers more than the ‘laddish culture' or ‘anti social behaviour' as the root cause. Parents deserve and need to know the full range of reasons why boys are underachieving and, fundamentally, what they can do to help prevent disaffection and underachievement in their boys. This highly informative and highly practical book contains strong messages about the need to develop independence in boys, the importance of male role models within the close (and extended) family and what to look out for in school, including signs of peer pressure and limiting negative self beliefs. It gives advice on how best to support boys in their learning and in developing self esteem.

"Boys’ achievement has attracted great attention in recent years in many countries. This comprehensive book based on sound research in schools provides practical insights into how the achievement of boysand girls can be raised. It reminds us that it is not all boys or no girlswho underachieve. It demonstrates the respective roles of teaching andlearning, school culture and social factors. No easy answers butexcellent ideas backed by evidence from authoritative, thoroughresearchers with a firm basis in schools." Judy Sebba, Professor of Education, University of Sussex "Teachers will find this book invaluable. It is based on quality researchwhich actually evaluates the impact of the various strategies suggestedfor raising boys' achievement. What is more, in contrast to many of themore 'quick-fix' works in this field, the authors’ discussion and analysisis measured and nuanced, and supported by an in-depth understandingof the wealth of theory and research around gender and achievement.It provides a welcome and weighty contribution to an evercontroversial debate." Becky Francis, London Metropolitan University In this important book, the authors evaluate different approaches and advocate practical, evidence-based strategies, which have the potential to promote boys’ as well as girls’ achievements. The approaches are discussed within the context of inclusivity, acknowledging the diverse needs and interests of different boys and the invisibility and continuing disadvantage of some girls. The book begins and ends with reflections from students of their own school experiences, and makes practical recommendations for the future. This book draws upon empirical research and work initiated as part of the DfES project on Raising Boys’ Achievement. It brings together theoretical and practical issues, and reflects upon the construction of the debate about boys’ apparent under-achievement from the perspectives of girls as well as boys. The authors critically explore notions of under-achievement and ‘value added’, and consider how useful the concept of the ‘gender gap’ is in advancing the debates. Raising Boys’ Achievement in Secondary Schools is key reading for undergraduate and postgraduate Education students, PGCE students, headteachers, senior managers within schools and local education authorities, and policy makers.