This conference will be online:-

• Presenters are presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides and activities
• Opportunities for delegate questions and comments
• A copy of the slides will be made available after the course, along with further materials

This course is split over two afternoons 12.30pm to 3pm on both dates.

• Does your boys' achievement fall below that of girls?
• Are your staff struggling to close the attainment gap?
• Do you want to get beyond the misconceptions behind boys' lack of achievement?

Do Boys Underachieve?

More boys than girls fail to achieve level 4 in English national tests at the end of key stage 2; rather more boys than girls fail to achieve the 5A*-C benchmark grades in GCSE examinations taken at 16+. These patterns of academic achievement are evident in most schools in England.

It is important that teachers are able to identify the reasons behind this trend and to go beyond the many myths surrounding the challenge. Initial research by Younger et al from the University of Cambridge has identified schools which have strategies in place which improve the academic achievement of boys without impacting negatively on girls’ performances. Many of these successful strategies are Pedagogic, Organisational & Socio-cultural.

This course draws upon current research and expertise to cut through the myths and offer practical classroom solutions to raising boys' performance.

Benefits of the course

• Understand what research tells us about the facts and misconceptions around boys’ achievement
• Identify the key issues and focuses for your school
• Gain practical strategies and tools that you can use immediately on returning to school
• Be clear about your next steps in improving boys’ achievement in your school

Course Outline

What’s the problem?

• Causes of Boys’ Low Achievement – Facts and False Conceptions
• Identifying the issues in your school
• Four key strands for moving boys forwards

In the classroom

• Issues and opportunities around teaching boys
• Strategies and misconceptions
• What really works?

Get the right attitude

• Promoting positive learning behaviours
• Developing growth mindset, resilience and grit
• Foster the DIY approach (independence and initiative)
• Emotional vocabulary

Beyond the classroom

• Positive interventions
• Mentoring programmes
• The right role model

The tricky whole-school elements

• Unconscious biases and implications
• Structures and systems
• Brave leadership

Presenter Profile

Peter Sharp has taught in maintained and independent schools, including as Director of Teaching & Learning and Deputy Head (Academic) at a London boarding school. He will shortly become Chair of Governors of a maintained school in London and has experience as a team inspector for the Independent Schools Inspectorate.

In the summer of 2021, he stepped down from his full-time role in school leadership to pursue his enthusiasm for supporting schools in their continuous improvement. As a Mountain Leader, sports coach and part-time philosophy student, he is passionate about the holistic education of life-long learners.

Cost: £250 per delegate; £299 for 2 teachers from the same school booking on this course

Booking Form

The information will be used solely to process your booking. You can see further information on our privacy statement here.