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The Independent
20-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Schools should be ‘boy positive' to tackle male underachievement
A 'boy-positive' learning environment should be developed in schools and the Government should appoint a minister for men to tackle gender disparities in education, a report has suggested. The Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) has said a dedicated strategy is needed to tackle attainment differences between men and women to address 'one of the most egregious issues' affecting education and society. There is a risk of 'under-educated men veering towards the political extremes' if male underachievement is not tackled, the report has warned. The think tank's paper, sponsored by Ulster University, estimates that half a million young men have missed out on higher education over the past decade. The report, which has been co-authored by male inclusion adviser Mark Brooks, calls for a bigger focus on gender disparities – especially in the educational workforce – in Ofsted inspections, as well as in universities' access and participation plans. It highlighted that many people believe the presence of more male teachers 'normalises learning as a suitable activity for men' and may help children with no positive male role models at home The report has called for ministers to learn from the push to get more women into scientific roles to get more men into the teaching, care and nursing professions, where they are currently underrepresented. It added that the majority of universities still do not formally recognise men as a disadvantaged group in respect to university entry. In 2024/25, around 44,000 fewer UK-domiciled young men than women accepted a place at a UK higher education institution, according to data which looks at Ucas applicants aged 19 and under. If young women and young men went to higher education at the same rate, there would actually be more male students as more men than women are born each year, according to the report. The gap between what currently happens and full equity stands at 'around 55,000 missing men each year' – which the think tank said equates to around half a million missing men over the past decade. The Government could appoint a junior 'Minister for Men and Boys' or a named minister specifically tasked with addressing the educational underachievement of male pupils and students, the report said. The paper has called for grassroots initiatives aimed at raising the standard of boys' education to be evaluated and expanded – such as 'Lads Need Dads', which runs a reading mentoring scheme in schools. It added: 'It is worth noting that some specific changes aimed at a boy-positive environment could be cheap and straightforward to deliver – such as marking International Men's Day.' In April last year, just months before the election, the Commons Education Select Committee launched an inquiry into why boys consistently underperform compared with girls in educational attainment. It came after a report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Issues Affecting Men and Boys called on schools to tell parents what their child was being taught about 'toxic masculinity'. Mary Curnock Cook, a former Ucas chief executive, highlighted figures in the think tank's report which suggested that around a quarter of parents think that boys in their child's school are made to feel ashamed of being male. In her foreword to the Hepi report, Ms Curnock Cook wrote: 'Is 'toxic masculinity' the cause or the effect of stigmatising boys and young men and failing to care about their education? 'We want girls to have role models to motivate them to achieve, yet we seem to be intensely relaxed about so many boys growing up with few male teachers, often in single-parent households (where the single parent is usually a mum, not a dad) and in places where their doctor, the vet and the solicitor are also increasingly likely to be female. 'Is it any wonder they look to social media for their icons and heroes and are drawn too often to highly toxic versions of masculinity?' She added that ignoring the 'worsening gulf' between boys and girls in education is 'no longer an option'. Ms Curnock Cook said: 'It matters because a significant minority of men and boys are unnecessarily underachieving in education as this report so graphically describes. 'They are going on to crowd our justice system and prisons, our hospitals, our negative narratives about masculinity and the continuing fight for gender equality in the workplace and in homes.' Nick Hillman, director of the Hepi and co-author of the report, said: 'Education holds the key to unlocking more equal opportunities across our society but boys and men currently fall behind girls and women at each stage of education, from infant class to PhDs. 'The resolute focus that is generally put on educational differences by class and ethnicity is generally missing when it comes to the sex of learners. 'That must change if we are to tackle one of the most egregious issues affecting education as well as society. 'We need a cross-government strategy to address the problem. It wasn't until 2022 that we had a dedicated health strategy for women and we are still waiting for a dedicated education strategy for men. 'For any new strategy to be truly effective, it will need clear ministerial oversight, including – if necessary – a new Minister for Men and Boys to oversee it.' Mr Brooks, co-founding trustee of the Men and Boys Coalition and co-author of the report, said: 'Everyone in education knows young men are not achieving as much as young women. Yet it has become a truth that dare not speak its name. 'Each year, it can be clearly seen when the exam results and higher education participation rates are published. Nationally though, there is little discussion or accountability, let alone any action. 'It is difficult to understand the reasons why – even more so if we truly aim to create a more inclusive society.'
The Independent
20-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Schools told to be more ‘boy-positive' to fix male underachievement
A "boy-positive" learning environment needs to be fostered in schools and a dedicated Minister for Men appointed to address gender disparities in education, a report says. The paper by the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi), sponsored by Ulster University, argues that a dedicated strategy is crucial to boys' underachievement at school, calling it "one of the most egregious issues" facing education and society. The report warns of the potential societal consequences of male underachievement, suggesting a risk of "under-educated men veering towards the political extremes" if the issue remains unaddressed. Hepi estimates that half a million young men have missed out on higher education opportunities in the past decade. Co-authored by male inclusion adviser Mark Brooks, the report urges greater scrutiny of gender disparities within the educational workforce through Ofsted inspections and university access plans. It emphasises the perceived benefit of more male teachers, suggesting their presence "normalises learning as a suitable activity for men' and can positively influence children lacking positive male role models at home. The report also recommends the Government draw parallels from successful i nitiatives to increase female representation in STEM fields, applying similar strategies to encourage men into teaching, care, and nursing professions where they are currently underrepresented. It added that the majority of universities still do not formally recognise men as a disadvantaged group in respect to university entry. In 2024/25, around 44,000 fewer young male residents of the UK accepted a place at a UK higher education institution than women. That is according to data which looks at Ucas applicants aged 19 and under. If young women and young men went to higher education at the same rate, there would actually be more male students, as more boys than girls are born each year, according to the report. The gap between what currently happens and full equity stands at 'around 55,000 missing men each year' – which the think tank said equates to around half a million missing men over the past decade. The Government could appoint a junior 'Minister for Men and Boys' or a named minister specifically tasked with addressing the educational underachievement of male pupils and students, the report said. The paper has called for grassroots initiatives aimed at raising the standard of boys' education to be evaluated and expanded – such as 'Lads Need Dads', which runs a reading mentoring scheme in schools. It added: 'It is worth noting that some specific changes aimed at a boy-positive environment could be cheap and straightforward to deliver – such as marking International Men's Day.' In April 2024, just months before the election, the Commons Education Select Committee launched an inquiry into why boys consistently underperform compared with girls in educational attainment. It came after a report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Issues Affecting Men and Boys called on schools to tell parents what their child was being taught about 'toxic masculinity '. Mary Curnock Cook, a former Ucas chief executive, highlighted figures in the think tank's report which suggested that around a quarter of parents think that boys in their child's school are made to feel ashamed of being male. In her foreword to the Hepi report, Ms Curnock Cook wrote that ignoring the 'worsening gulf' between boys and girls in education is 'no longer an option'. Boys were growing up with few male teachers and their doctors, vets and lawyers were also increasingly likely to be female, she wrote. 'Is it any wonder they look to social media for their icons and heroes and are drawn too often to highly toxic versions of masculinity?' Nick Hillman, director of the Hepi and co-author of the report, said: 'Education holds the key to unlocking more equal opportunities across our society but boys and men currently fall behind girls and women at each stage of education, from infant class to PhDs. 'The resolute focus that is generally put on educational differences by class and ethnicity is generally missing when it comes to the sex of learners. 'That must change if we are to tackle one of the most egregious issues affecting education as well as society. 'We need a cross-government strategy to address the problem. It wasn't until 2022 that we had a dedicated health strategy for women and we are still waiting for a dedicated education strategy for men. 'For any new strategy to be truly effective, it will need clear ministerial oversight, including – if necessary – a new Minister for Men and Boys to oversee it.'
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Boys growing up without dads are in crisis, report says
Harley Watson was on a path to what he calls a "gangster" life. The 17-year-old, from Clacton, in Essex, was a "lost and troubled kid", having grown up without a dad. "I was behaving very badly in school and, if I'd carried on, I would almost certainly have been excluded." His experience is echoed in a new report, which says young men who lack a positive male role model are in crisis. Fatherlessness has a significant impact on boys' mental health, education and future prospects, the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) report found. Aged 14, Harley joined Lads Need Dads, a local programme that equips boys with life skills and confidence. Male mentors work with small groups of eight boys at a time, teaching them about healthy relationships, anger management and what makes a good dad. Harley says it changed his life. He learned how to take care of himself and "become a better man". "Now they are supporting me to join the Army," he adds. "They've bought me the kit and helped me meet the right people. It's a career path I wouldn't even have looked into but I'm really excited by it." Sonia Shaljean, who runs the organisation, says she knew Harley had huge potential, even though he was "quite shut down" when he joined them. She believes fatherlessness is a key factor in issues from crime and addiction to school exclusions, homelessness and male suicide. "It's not taken seriously enough," she says. "We skirt around the issue, and it's almost controversial to say it, but boys need a supportive father figure. "Some people are offended by our name - Lads Need Dads - but I stand by it. We're not taking away from the importance of a mother, but that male influence is also important. "Ultimately, we're helping women and girls too by raising boys who are more emotionally intelligent, stable and secure." By the age of 14, almost half of first-born children do not live with both natural parents, compared to 21% for those born in 1970 Boys are now more likely to own a smartphone than to live with their dad Boys are struggling in education, more likely to take their own lives, less likely to get into stable work, and far more likely to be caught up in crime As the likelihood of a masculine presence in the home diminishes, young men are seeking new modes of masculinity, like the controversial social media personality Andrew Tate Lawrence Dallaglio, the former England rugby union captain, backed the report, stating: "We have been so careless in our downgrading of the traditional masculine virtues that we are in danger of leaving a whole generation behind." Source: CSJ - a Conservative think-tank focused on tackling poverty. Sonia, who is a mother of three young men, says some boys who have grown up in violent homes can be fearful of men, so positive male role models are crucial. "We work with them in the same group for up to eight years, so they build real friendships and it becomes like a family. "Our groups are incredibly diverse. It's a misconception that father absence is just an issue in certain communities." Not all fathers are absent by choice, she says. "Some were wonderful dads but have sadly passed away. Some boys have been abandoned by their fathers but others desperately want to be involved in their sons' lives and some even struggle with suicidal thoughts as a result." Around the eight-month mark of the programme, boys often start to talk about their fathers, she says. "As their confidence grows, some feel ready to explore the possibility of reconnecting and many go on to re-establish a relationship with their dads." Sonia set up Lads Need Dads 10 years ago, with an initial grant of £4,000, having worked for more than 20 years on the frontlines of criminal justice, addiction, domestic abuse and homelessness. "I kept seeing the same heartbreaking pattern - so many men stuck in cycles of crime, addiction, and hopelessness. And nearly every time, there was one thing they had in common: growing up without a father or a positive male role model. "I thought 'I've got to do something'. If we don't provide a service for these boys we won't break this cycle," she says. About 250 boys have been helped by the organisation. Charlie Howlett, 19, says it saved his life when he joined six years ago. His mother had died when he was a two, leaving his father to bring him and his younger brother up alone. "My dad didn't take it too well and it wasn't the best situation growing up," he adds. The brothers moved in with their nan and aunt a few years later, but still remained close to their dad until he died suddenly from a blood clot when Charlie was 12. Charlie tried to be strong for everyone and be the father figure. "But I couldn't cope," he says. "I was lashing out at everyone and started thinking about taking my own life." Lads Need Dads has given him an "unimaginable" amount of support, he says. "I thought I was the only person going through it, then I met this group of boys my age who were also growing up without a dad. "The mentors were a huge part of it for me. You grow to trust them like your own dad." Sonia and her team supported Charlie three years ago when his nan, who he was still living with, also died. "They have helped me be a better big brother and I think that has kept him on a good path too," he adds. Sonia helped Charlie get a plumbing apprenticeship and, for the last year, he has also been mentoring boys on the programme. "It's a really good feeling to know I'm giving something back. I can see parts of myself in all of them," he says. Lads Need Dads also runs a reading mentor programme in primary schools and is piloting a new programme in September where, for the first time, male teachers will deliver a three-month intervention to Year 7 boys. Despite its impact, Sonia says Lads Need Dads is struggling for funding. "It's so frustrating because I feel like we have this blueprint that works that could be rolled out nationwide, but I have to turn away mothers who don't live in Essex, who are desperate for help for their sons." Sonia says society has to believe in boys like Harley and Charlie, and help them reach their potential and break the cycle of fatherlessness. As for Charlie, he says he wants to carry on plumbing, see more of the world and continue mentoring boys. But his ultimate wish is to be a father. "I can't wait to be a dad. It's the one thing in my life I know is exactly what I want. I want to be the best dad ever." If you are suffering distress or despair, details of help and support in the UK are available at BBC Action Line Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Boys growing up without dads are in crisis, report says
Harley Watson was on a path to what he calls a "gangster" life. The 17-year-old, from Clacton, in Essex, was a "lost and troubled kid", having grown up without a dad. "I was behaving very badly in school and, if I'd carried on, I would almost certainly have been excluded." His experience is echoed in a new report, which says young men who lack a positive male role model are in crisis. Fatherlessness has a significant impact on boys' mental health, education and future prospects, the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) report found. Aged 14, Harley joined Lads Need Dads, a local programme that equips boys with life skills and confidence. Male mentors work with small groups of eight boys at a time, teaching them about healthy relationships, anger management and what makes a good dad. Harley says it changed his life. He learned how to take care of himself and "become a better man". "Now they are supporting me to join the Army," he adds. "They've bought me the kit and helped me meet the right people. It's a career path I wouldn't even have looked into but I'm really excited by it." Sonia Shaljean, who runs the organisation, says she knew Harley had huge potential, even though he was "quite shut down" when he joined them. She believes fatherlessness is a key factor in issues from crime and addiction to school exclusions, homelessness and male suicide. "It's not taken seriously enough," she says. "We skirt around the issue, and it's almost controversial to say it, but boys need a supportive father figure. "Some people are offended by our name - Lads Need Dads - but I stand by it. We're not taking away from the importance of a mother, but that male influence is also important. "Ultimately, we're helping women and girls too by raising boys who are more emotionally intelligent, stable and secure." By the age of 14, almost half of first-born children do not live with both natural parents, compared to 21% for those born in 1970 Boys are now more likely to own a smartphone than to live with their dad Boys are struggling in education, more likely to take their own lives, less likely to get into stable work, and far more likely to be caught up in crime As the likelihood of a masculine presence in the home diminishes, young men are seeking new modes of masculinity, like the controversial social media personality Andrew Tate Lawrence Dallaglio, the former England rugby union captain, backed the report, stating: "We have been so careless in our downgrading of the traditional masculine virtues that we are in danger of leaving a whole generation behind." Source: CSJ - a Conservative think-tank focused on tackling poverty. Sonia, who is a mother of three young men, says some boys who have grown up in violent homes can be fearful of men, so positive male role models are crucial. "We work with them in the same group for up to eight years, so they build real friendships and it becomes like a family. "Our groups are incredibly diverse. It's a misconception that father absence is just an issue in certain communities." Not all fathers are absent by choice, she says. "Some were wonderful dads but have sadly passed away. Some boys have been abandoned by their fathers but others desperately want to be involved in their sons' lives and some even struggle with suicidal thoughts as a result." Around the eight-month mark of the programme, boys often start to talk about their fathers, she says. "As their confidence grows, some feel ready to explore the possibility of reconnecting and many go on to re-establish a relationship with their dads." Sonia set up Lads Need Dads 10 years ago, with an initial grant of £4,000, having worked for more than 20 years on the frontlines of criminal justice, addiction, domestic abuse and homelessness. "I kept seeing the same heartbreaking pattern - so many men stuck in cycles of crime, addiction, and hopelessness. And nearly every time, there was one thing they had in common: growing up without a father or a positive male role model. "I thought 'I've got to do something'. If we don't provide a service for these boys we won't break this cycle," she says. About 250 boys have been helped by the organisation. Charlie Howlett, 19, says it saved his life when he joined six years ago. His mother had died when he was a two, leaving his father to bring him and his younger brother up alone. "My dad didn't take it too well and it wasn't the best situation growing up," he adds. The brothers moved in with their nan and aunt a few years later, but still remained close to their dad until he died suddenly from a blood clot when Charlie was 12. Charlie tried to be strong for everyone and be the father figure. "But I couldn't cope," he says. "I was lashing out at everyone and started thinking about taking my own life." Lads Need Dads has given him an "unimaginable" amount of support, he says. "I thought I was the only person going through it, then I met this group of boys my age who were also growing up without a dad. "The mentors were a huge part of it for me. You grow to trust them like your own dad." Sonia and her team supported Charlie three years ago when his nan, who he was still living with, also died. "They have helped me be a better big brother and I think that has kept him on a good path too," he adds. Sonia helped Charlie get a plumbing apprenticeship and, for the last year, he has also been mentoring boys on the programme. "It's a really good feeling to know I'm giving something back. I can see parts of myself in all of them," he says. Lads Need Dads also runs a reading mentor programme in primary schools and is piloting a new programme in September where, for the first time, male teachers will deliver a three-month intervention to Year 7 boys. Despite its impact, Sonia says Lads Need Dads is struggling for funding. "It's so frustrating because I feel like we have this blueprint that works that could be rolled out nationwide, but I have to turn away mothers who don't live in Essex, who are desperate for help for their sons." Sonia says society has to believe in boys like Harley and Charlie, and help them reach their potential and break the cycle of fatherlessness. As for Charlie, he says he wants to carry on plumbing, see more of the world and continue mentoring boys. But his ultimate wish is to be a father. "I can't wait to be a dad. It's the one thing in my life I know is exactly what I want. I want to be the best dad ever." If you are suffering distress or despair, details of help and support in the UK are available at BBC Action Line Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
15-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Lost boys report: Young men are in crisis due to fatherlessness
Harley Watson was on a path to what he calls a "gangster" 17-year-old, from Clacton, in Essex, was a "lost and troubled kid", having grown up without a dad."I was behaving very badly in school and, if I'd carried on, I would almost certainly have been excluded."His experience is echoed in a new report, which says young men who lack a positive male role model are in has a significant impact on boys' mental health, education and future prospects, the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) report 14, Harley joined Lads Need Dads, a local programme that equips boys with life skills and mentors work with small groups of eight boys at a time, teaching them about healthy relationships, anger management and what makes a good says it changed his life. He learned how to take care of himself and "become a better man"."Now they are supporting me to join the Army," he adds. "They've bought me the kit and helped me meet the right people. It's a career path I wouldn't even have looked into but I'm really excited by it." Sonia Shaljean, who runs the organisation, says she knew Harley had huge potential, even though he was "quite shut down" when he joined believes fatherlessness is a key factor in issues from crime and addiction to school exclusions, homelessness and male suicide."It's not taken seriously enough," she says. "We skirt around the issue, and it's almost controversial to say it, but boys need a supportive father figure."Some people are offended by our name - Lads Need Dads - but I stand by it. We're not taking away from the importance of a mother, but that male influence is also important."Ultimately, we're helping women and girls too by raising boys who are more emotionally intelligent, stable and secure." What does the Lost Boys report say? By the age of 14, almost half of first-born children do not live with both natural parents, compared to 21% for those born in 1970Boys are now more likely to own a smartphone than to live with their dadBoys are struggling in education, more likely to take their own lives, less likely to get into stable work, and far more likely to be caught up in crimeAs the likelihood of a masculine presence in the home diminishes, young men are seeking new modes of masculinity, like the controversial social media personality Andrew TateLawrence Dallaglio, the former England rugby union captain, backed the report, stating: "We have been so careless in our downgrading of the traditional masculine virtues that we are in danger of leaving a whole generation behind."Source: CSJ - a Conservative think-tank focused on tackling poverty. 'I've got to do something to break this cycle' Sonia, who is a mother of three young men, says some boys who have grown up in violent homes can be fearful of men, so positive male role models are crucial."We work with them in the same group for up to eight years, so they build real friendships and it becomes like a family."Our groups are incredibly diverse. It's a misconception that father absence is just an issue in certain communities."Not all fathers are absent by choice, she says."Some were wonderful dads but have sadly passed away. Some boys have been abandoned by their fathers but others desperately want to be involved in their sons' lives and some even struggle with suicidal thoughts as a result." Around the eight-month mark of the programme, boys often start to talk about their fathers, she says."As their confidence grows, some feel ready to explore the possibility of reconnecting and many go on to re-establish a relationship with their dads."Sonia set up Lads Need Dads 10 years ago, with an initial grant of £4,000, having worked for more than 20 years on the frontlines of criminal justice, addiction, domestic abuse and homelessness."I kept seeing the same heartbreaking pattern - so many men stuck in cycles of crime, addiction, and hopelessness. And nearly every time, there was one thing they had in common: growing up without a father or a positive male role model."I thought 'I've got to do something'. If we don't provide a service for these boys we won't break this cycle," she says. 'I was lashing out at everyone' About 250 boys have been helped by the organisation. Charlie Howlett, 19, says it saved his life when he joined six years mother had died when he was a two, leaving his father to bring him and his younger brother up alone."My dad didn't take it too well and it wasn't the best situation growing up," he brothers moved in with their nan and aunt a few years later, but still remained close to their dad until he died suddenly from a blood clot when Charlie was tried to be strong for everyone and be the father figure. "But I couldn't cope," he says. "I was lashing out at everyone and started thinking about taking my own life." Lads Need Dads has given him an "unimaginable" amount of support, he says."I thought I was the only person going through it, then I met this group of boys my age who were also growing up without a dad."The mentors were a huge part of it for me. You grow to trust them like your own dad."Sonia and her team supported Charlie three years ago when his nan, who he was still living with, also died."They have helped me be a better big brother and I think that has kept him on a good path too," he helped Charlie get a plumbing apprenticeship and, for the last year, he has also been mentoring boys on the programme."It's a really good feeling to know I'm giving something back. I can see parts of myself in all of them," he says. Lads Need Dads also runs a reading mentor programme in primary schools and is piloting a new programme in September where, for the first time, male teachers will deliver a three-month intervention to Year 7 its impact, Sonia says Lads Need Dads is struggling for funding."It's so frustrating because I feel like we have this blueprint that works that could be rolled out nationwide, but I have to turn away mothers who don't live in Essex, who are desperate for help for their sons."Sonia says society has to believe in boys like Harley and Charlie, and help them reach their potential and break the cycle of for Charlie, he says he wants to carry on plumbing, see more of the world and continue mentoring boys. But his ultimate wish is to be a father."I can't wait to be a dad. It's the one thing in my life I know is exactly what I want. I want to be the best dad ever." If you are suffering distress or despair, details of help and support in the UK are available at BBC Action Line Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
