Photo by MTJ Media

What you can do:

• Work together to ensure the whole school has a ‘can-do’ attitude and high expectations of all its pupils
• Try to set aside any preconceptions you may have about boys’ willingness or ability to learn
• Be explicit in your expectations for achievement and progress of all pupils
• Challenge and explicitly explore any stereotypical views about gender, so that children become aware of how these can limit their potential
• Tackle any ‘macho’ tendencies to see school as ‘uncool’ or ‘for girls’ as early as possible – this may include involving ‘cool’ male role models
• Set clear rules for acceptable behaviour – and show that you have high expectations for boys’ behaviour as well as their learning
• Make sure you value the things that boys do and like doing – boys often get criticized rather than recognized
• Where boys are reluctant learners, choose specific strategies to motivate and engage them

If you would like more information about the reasons for some boys’ underachievement in literacy and how we can overcome this we suggest you read the Project X Handbook: Get the Boys Reading and Writing: The Essential Guide to Raising Boys’ Achievement.