Gender | Centre for the Use of Research & Evidence in Education (CUREE)

Using Assertive Mentoring to counter laddishness

Aim: The study set out to explore the effects of a particular style of mentoring that aims to tackle issues of laddishness and macho image. It set out to provide ways for the students to opt out of laddish behaviour (prevalent amongst some girls as well as lads) without threatening their status in the eyes of their peers.

Children writing: shaping words, shaping thoughts

Aim: To develop cursive writing from entry to support creative writing, to consider gender issues in the use of this approach and to summarise the impact of this approach.

Raising boys' attainment in English through single gender teaching and assessment for learning strategies

Aim: The original aim of the project was to investigate ways to raise boys attainment in English. We were aware that our GCSE top sets were heavily weighted towards girls, with often less than ten boys in a group of thirty plus, and we wanted to address this imbalance. The main aim of the study was to close the attainment gap between boys and girls.

Boys will be boys? Raising boys motivation and achievement in Key Stage Three Design Technology

Aim: Decrease the gap between boys and girls achievement at Key Stage Three. Increase the number of level 5 and level 6 achieved by boys in DT in their Key Stage Three Standard Aptitude Tests (SATs). Improve the behaviour and effort of boys during DT lessons. Increase the number of boys opting for DT - possibly within food and textiles.

Use of drama and story telling techniques to improve writing at KS2, with an emphasis on boys' achievement

Aim: To investigate strategies for helping KS2 pupils, particularly boys, to overcome barriers to writing. In particular to explore whether: Using drama and storytelling techniques can enable pupils to bridge the gap between what is spoken and what is written; A range of oral communications skills including persuasion, description and narrative can be transferred to the written form through shared and tiered writing sessions; and The existing influence of T.V. and video viewing can promote the transfer visual images into the pupils writing.

Effective teaching to raise boys' literacy learning and achievement

Aim: The research aimed to find out whether and how oral, interactive approaches to literacy might engage underachieving Year Four and Year Five boys in school literacy learning within the context of whole class teaching.

Improving outcomes for learners with English as an additional language (EAL) in science

Aim: To see how the science curriculum at KS3 could be made more accessible for EAL learners of Pakistani origin and to develop an effective teaching partnership between specialist subject staff and ethnic minority achievement grant funded (EMA) support staff.

An investigation into the independent learning skills used by male students at English Language A Level

Aim: A group of very able boys in a particular cohort appeared to struggle with AS/A level English Language despite good performances at GCSE level. This study specifically aimed to investigate the factors that limit boys performance at English Language A level and identify strategies that can improve their independent learning and motivation.

How can Teachers Motivate Less Motivated Boys?

Aim: To investigate factors that affect the motivation of less able boys in Science and, from this, to see how teachers may improve that motivation.

Improving teaching and learning with mentorship

Aim: To increase the record of achievement among Year 7 and Year 12 pupils in a girls comprehensive school through regular mentoring interviews between pupils and teachers.