Project launched aimed at preventing boys from falling behind in the education system

Research from the university’s Taking Boys Seriously project has shown that boys begin to fall behind early in life.

Over 600 delegates were involved in the launch, with the university’s new Belfast campus hosting an event for the first time.

“Boys and young men are seriously falling behind at every level of the education system,” said Professor Brian Murphy, director of academic business development at the university,

“At Ulster University the participation rate for young men is now at 40% of our student population. We have to ask are we really taking boys’ education seriously with stats such as this?

“The problem starts early,” he said. “The boy left behind becomes the young man excluded from a progressive and selective system.

“This is a social problem of compounded disadvantage. That’s why our research looks, for the first time in the sector, at formal and informal education of boys as relational learners, where teachers really get to know their students as people,” he explained.

“These are principles based on the voice of boys and their teachers of what works. We look forward to setting up a series of case studies that trial more widely the principles of relational learning.

“I have no doubt that what works for boys will be good educationally for men, girls, women and the full spectrum of gender identities that society is now recognising.”

Findings from the research indicated that boys who experience educational disadvantage thrive in an educational system that adopts relational principles and practices.

It comes as the Executive begins to consider the Fair Start report on Educational Underachievement published by an expert panel for the Department for Education earlier this year.

Part of the New Decade, New Approach deal, it identified eight major areas where improvement was needed in the education system and included 13 recommendations, among them the need for promoting a whole community approach to education and to find ways of maximising boys’ potential as they continue to encounter barriers affecting their futures.

Education Minister Michelle McIlveen addressed the conference and said work has already begun towards implementing recommendations contained in the Fair Start report.

“Maximising boys’ potential was seen as one of the most critical elements given the emphasis within New Decade, New Approach on examining and addressing links between persistent educational underachievement and socio-economic background, including the long-standing issues facing working-class, Protestant boys,” she said.

“There are eight actions which need to be progressed including an Educating and Engaging Boys Toolkit for school leaders on addressing the factors limiting boys’ progress.”

Ms McIlveen added that school development plans “should have a focus on raising boys’ attainment”.

"The Education Authority will develop effective practice and co-design Teacher Professional Learning around understanding boys.

“My Department is to develop a communication strategy to promote education in consultation with communities and young people and there should be adequately resourced wrap-around support for young men involving statutory and voluntary youth services.

“A new programme of enrichment and extra-curricular activities involving sport, volunteering and leadership will be developed and encouraging males into higher education including the teaching profession is another priority.

“I am keen to see rapid progress on the Fair Start report and consequently £4m has been set aside in this year’s budget to begin this work. This investment will initiate fundamental changes in Early Years.”

So far 18 of the 47 actions included in the Fair Start report have been initiated.