1. Socialisation Role Models Identity Subcultures
Using these key concepts, discuss reasons why boys are underachieving in school compared to girls.
Socialisation
Role Models
Identity
Subcultures

2. Why Boys Underachieve in School
The BIG Idea
Why Boys Underachieve in School
Explore factors that might explain why boys tend to underachieve in school.
Discover sociological research that supports the possible reasons for male educational underachievement.
We are Learning to...
Specification: Differential educational achievement of social groups by social class, gender and ethnicity in contemporary society
In today’s lesson...
GOOD Learning... (Grade C/D)
Be able to identify one or two reasons why boys tend to underachieve in school compared to girls, using examples to demonstrate your understanding.
GREAT LEARNING... (Grade B/C)
Be able to identify two or three reasons why boys tend to underachieve in school compared to girls, using examples and reference to a sociological study to demonstrate your understanding.
EVEN BETTER... (Grade A/A*)
Be able to identify three or more reasons why boys tend to underachieve in school compared to girls, using examples and reference to more than one sociological study to demonstrate your understanding.

3. Factor 1 - Boys and Literacy
Parents spend less time reading with their sons.
Mothers normally do the reading- feminises?
Boys hobbies, e.g. Sports, do little to help develop their language and communication skills.
Mini-Survey: Hands up for Fathers / Mothers reading to you.
Internal or External Factor?

4. Social Policies to Raise Literacy in Boys
Reading Champions - Uses male role models celebrating their own reading interests.
National Literacy Strategy - Focus on improving boys literacy.
Dads and Son’s Campaign - Getting dads more involved in sons education.
Playing for success - Uses sports to boost learning skills and motivation among boys.
Internal or External Factor?

5. Factor 2 - Decline of Traditional Male Jobs
Due to globalisation there has been a decline in heavy industries, such as iron and steel, engineering etc.
Decline in male employment opportunities has led to ‘identity crises.’
Results in belief that they will not get a ‘proper job’= low self esteem and motivation to get grades!
Link to Yorkshire mining
Internal or External Factor?

6. Factor 3 - Feminisation of Education
Schools do not value masculine traits, such as competitiveness and leadership.
Instead celebrate qualities such as attentiveness in class, methodical working.
Sewell is a key thinker here.
Solution? Coursework should be replaced with exams and emphasis in outdoor education within the curriculum.
Link to research done from DFE document.
Internal or External Factor?

7. Factor 4 - Lack of Male Role Models
Lack of strong positive role models both at home and in school = boys underachievement.
90% single parent families headed by women!
Only 16% of male teachers in primary schools.
What is the knock on effect?
Internal or External Factor?

8. Factor 4 - Lack of Male Role Models
Yougov (2007)- 39% of primary schools had no male teachers at all.
Majority said presence of male teacher made them behave better, 42% worked harder
BUT: Francis (2006) found that over 60% of 7-8 yr olds believed gender didn’t matter.
Internal or External Factor?

9. Factor 5 - ‘Laddish’ Subcultures
Growth of laddish subcultures has contributed to boys underachievement .
If a working class boy is a swot they are likely to be harassed, labelled as sissies and subjected to homophobic verbal abuse.
Being labelled
a swot threatens masculinity!
What famous studies looked at laddish subcultures?
Internal or External Factor?

10. Modern Study on Boys Underachievement
Gary Wilson (2013) Breaking through barriers to boys achievement: Developing a caring masculinity, 2nd ed This text attributes the underachievement of boys in education to 28 barriers which they face. These barriers are: a lack of independence prior to starting school, less developed linguistically on entry to school, forced to read and write before being physical or emotionally ready, playtimes tend to be hyperphysical and 'boysterous', many writing activities are perceived as irrelevant and unimportant, difficulties with structuring written work, reticence about spending time on planning and preparation, reading fiction is perceived as a female province, teacher talk and teacher expectations: gender bias, emotional intelligence issues, mismatch of teaching styles to preferred ways of learning, lack of opportunities for reflection, pupil grouping, inappropriate seating arrangement, ineffective group work, peer pressure, inappropriate reward systems and lack of positive achievement culture, the laddish culture, the influence of street culture, mismatch between assessment/examination methods and preferred ways of working, lack of positive male role models, the use of non-performance enhancing drug, low self-esteem and limiting self-beliefs, lack of engagement with the life of the school, homophobic bullying, parents' lack of understanding of the role that they can play, intervention occurring too late, teachers' lack of awareness of the barriers to boys' learning
Internal or External Factor?

11. Use this information, and more detailed explanations from the textbook (page 57-58) & to complete the activity.

12. Planning / Revision Technique: Create a Spider Diagram (LA)
WHY DO BOYS UNDERACHIEVE? (3-5 reasons)

13. Essay Planning PEEEL: Create an Outline of an Essay (HA)
Examine sociological arguments that support the view that gender differences in education are due to boys underachievement. (20 marks)
Paragraphs 1-4:
Point (Reason for Boys Underachievement) (A01):
Explanation of reason, including key concept / keyword (A01):
Evidence / Example (A01):
Evaluation Point of reason (A03):
Link to Achievement (A02)
Paragraph 5:
Point: Alternative explanation (e.g. reason for this is actually that girls are doing better) (A01):
Link: Back to question (A02)
Paragraph 6: Conclusion / WOW Paragraph

14. Homework
HA: Wow Paragraph, Use Gender, Class, and Ethnicity section on p.59, and ‘Moral Panic about Boys’ section on p.58 of textbook.
LA: Add Evaluation points to revision sheet in different colour.
Further Reading:
Plenary: 5 factors & sociologists on Post-it note

16. Why Boys Underachieve in School
The BIG Idea
Why Boys Underachieve in School
Explore factors that might explain why boys tend to underachieve in school.
Discover sociological research that supports the possible reasons for male educational underachievement.
We are Learning to...
Specification: Differential educational achievement of social groups by social class, gender and ethnicity in contemporary society
In today’s lesson...
GOOD Learning... (Grade C/D)
Be able to identify one or two reasons why boys tend to underachieve in school compared to girls, using examples to demonstrate your understanding.
GREAT LEARNING... (Grade B/C)
Be able to identify two or three reasons why boys tend to underachieve in school compared to girls, using examples and reference to a sociological study to demonstrate your understanding.
EVEN BETTER...
(Grade A/A*)
Be able to identify three or more reasons why boys tend to underachieve in school compared to girls, using examples and reference to more than one sociological study to demonstrate your understanding.

17. Review of Lesson
In Pairs / Small Groups – discuss the following questions:
What were the 5 factors covered today? (A01)
Explain how one of them can have a negative impact on male achievement. (A02)
Which factor has the most influence on male underachievement and why? (A03)
Which factor has the least influence on male underachievement and why? (A03)
Can any of these be interlinked to factors regarding female achievement? (A03)
How can we link what we have learnt to the topics of Education Policies, Theories of Education, or Class Differences in achievement? (A03)
Thinking about next lesson, what could be some factors that explain gender differences in subject choice? (A03)