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Course Summary

In the 2024-25 academic year, 64.3% of boys achieved a grade C/4 or higher in their GCSEs, compared to 70.5% of girls. * This ongoing gender gap highlights the need for specific strategies to support boys’ educational success.

Our one-day Improving Boys’ Achievement in Education online training explores why boys may fall behind in school and how educators can respond effectively. Through a mix of research, discussion, and practical strategies, this course examines how you can implement tailored, evidence-based interventions for boys to improve attainment.

The practical and interactive course covers topics including challenging misconceptions, effective teaching and feedback, promoting emotional literacy, managing behaviour, and amplifying pupil voice. You will have opportunities to reflect on your own experiences, share ideas with peers, and plan concrete actions to improve outcomes for boys in your own settings.

Led by experienced educator Peter, this training encourages collaboration and reflection, ensuring you leave with practical insights ready to implement in your education setting.

GOV.UK (2024 -2025)

Trainers

Peter Sharp

Expert Trainer

Who should attend

Mainstream schools, academies, special schools, colleges, local authorities, and multi-agency partners including:

Senior Leadership Teams
Teachers and Educators
Support Staff
Inclusion and Behaviour Teams
School Attendance Teams
Local Authority Education Teams
Charities Working with Boys and Young Men

Online Training

Participate in live training online
Group work and practical scenarios
Course materials

Great to hear from a range of contexts - reassuring and informative.
Emma Kirkham, Trinity C of E HIgh School

I'm leaving with lots to think about and further research to do. Thank you.
Hayley Stoner Secondary Mainstream School

Brilliant and informative thank you.
Sarah Colclough, Sandwell Community School

Interesting and useful.
Katie Parker, Sir William Ramsay Secondary School

Course Outcomes

Use practical techniques such as active learning, relationship-building, and emotional literacy to boost engagement and progress
Build shared commitment across staff to promote consistent strategies that improve outcomes for boys
Use evidence to develop your strategy and learn how to evaluate and report the impact of your initiatives
Explore wider strategies to improve attendance, behaviour, wellbeing and increase access to enrichment opportunities

Agenda

09:30 - 09:40

Course Introduction

Peter Sharp

Expert Trainer

09:40 - 10:15

Understanding the Gap: Bias, Data and the Boys We Teach

What does the data show about outcomes for boys?
When do boys start falling behind?
Which subjects or skills are affected?
How has this changed over time?

10:15 - 11:00

Developing and Delivering an Effective Strategy to Engage Boys in Learning

What do we know about the way boys learn?
Should we adapt our teaching to target boys?
How can we make our teaching relevant?

11:00 - 11:15

Morning Break

11:15 - 12:00

Targeting Support to Improve Attainment, Attendance and Behaviour

How can we manage boys’ behaviour in the classroom?
How do boys study and how does it impact their learning?
How does literacy affect boys’ motivation and chance of success?
Professional development, materials, technology, and specialist support
Implementing targeted interventions to improve attainment

12:00 – 13:00

Teaching Boys More Effectively: Practical Strategies

Can we adapt our teaching to support boys’ self-esteem?
Exploring motivation, identity and peer power
What does effective feedback look like for boys?
How do boys respond to praise and rewards?
Identifying gaps and prioritising support to reduce attainment gaps

13:00 – 14:00

Lunch Break

14:00 – 14:45

Strategies for Removing Non-Academic Barriers for Boys and Increasing Pupil Voice and Parental Engagement

How can we teach independence?
How can we empower boys to share their views and feel valued?
Fostering collaborative approaches and engagement between students, parents, teachers and school leaders

14:45 – 15:10

Reporting and Evidencing the Impact

Evidencing and reporting the success of your strategy
Tracking the academic progress and outcomes
Effective, low-cost strategies for raising the attainment of boys

15:10 – 15:30

Review of the Day: What Will You Change?

Review of key messages
Time for questions

15:30

Close of Course

Course Leader

Peter is an experienced educator and consultant dedicated to improving outcomes for young people across a range of school settings. He has worked extensively with schools on leadership, teaching and learning, bespoke professional development and behaviour strategies, bringing a practical and research-informed approach.

With a background in senior school leadership and cross-phase education, Peter understands the unique challenges and opportunities involved in engaging boys in education.

Peter Sharp

Expert Trainer

CPD

This course is CPD Certified.

Contribute 5 hours towards your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and receive a certificate of attendance.

In-house Training

Westminster Insight provides bespoke training at a time and place to suit you and your organisation’s needs. All our courses can be provided online, at your place of work or a venue of your choice. Additionally, we can tailor or create a course to suit the exact needs of your organisation. We will discuss the learning outcomes with you and tailor the training to the needs of your organisation.

Benefits of in-house training:

Flexible – Schedule a course date and times that work best for you and your teams. Upskill your teams immediately as training needs arise. Choose from in-person or online and bring your teams together to learn in an interactive, friendly environment.

Cost-effective – Train groups of individuals working in the same organisation without incurring travel or accommodation costs.

Customised Content – Our experienced trainers work with you to ensure that the course content is tailored to meet the needs of your teams and organisation. Benefit from the opportunity to have in-depth discussions about scenarios in your organisation in a confidential forum.

Find out more about our tailored training solutions by contacting us at learning@westminsterinsight.com

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Enquire about our training

Westminster Insight can also provide this training as an inhouse course, to find out more email learning@westminsterinsight.com.

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Improving Boys Achievement in Education

Online Training

Course Summary

Course Outcomes

Agenda