A unique Conference, highlighting the controversial subject of why boys are prone to underachieving, will be staged later this month in the Isle of Man.
It’s the first event of its kind for the Island and is being organised by the Isle of Man Children’s Centre, in a bid to raise awareness of what could be done to prevent a growing number of boys from failing to realise their true potential.
The one day, free Conference will be held at the Hilton Hotel, Douglas on Monday 28th September.
It will include a series of special seminars and workshops, providing practical strategies for teachers, social workers, nursery nurses and parents.
Statistics show that at almost every level of education, from foundation stage upwards, girls achieve higher academic levels than boys.
For example, by the beginning of KS3 the average boy starting secondary school is six months behind the average girl in numeracy, eleven months behind in speaking and listening skills and twelve months behind in literacy. And by the end of KS3 the gap has widened further.
There are a range of factors at work as to why boys underachieve, according to Max Carroll-Kelly, an IOMCC Trustee and Deputy Head of Braddan Primary School.
He has carried out in-depth research for the Isle of Man for the Department of Education, as a result of which the IOMCC felt there was compelling evidence to stage a locally focussed conference providing training, support and greater awareness for both practitioners and parents.
“The exam system is only part of the issue and everyone involved in raising, caring and educating boys has a part to play,” said Mr
Carroll-Kelly.
“The shortage of positive role models in boys' lives is well documented and though we can hold up David Beckham as a good role model, many other sporting figures are clearly not.”
But he added, “Although the poorer performance of males is a common phenomenon around the world, it’s important to realise that not all boys under achieve, they just have more potential to than girls.”
The Conference will be opened by Anne Craine MHK, Minister for Education with the keynote address being given by Gary Wilson, a leading authority in the UK on the subject, who in 2003 was made the country’s first Local Education Authority School Improvement Officer with specific responsibility for raising boys’ achievements.
He has spoken at numerous Government level Education Conferences and advised and trained in over 300 hundred schools across the UK, delivering countless sessions for parents and governors and working with boys the length and breadth of the country.
The Conference will be divided into sessions. Those between 1pm and 5pm are focussed on practitioners. The evening workshops from 6pm to 8.30pm will be aimed at parents or carers with boys.
Whilst the entire event is free, anyone interested in attending will first need to register with the IOMCC by contacting Rebecca McCauley on 676076 or by email rebeccamccauley@iomcc.org.im
