Forum Brief: Exam gender gap

Effective discipline and a competitive spirit in schools help boys to narrow the gap in examination results with girls, Ofsted has found.

The education watchdog said that boys have an "excuse to succeed" in schools in which the teachers commanded respect through a combination of high expectations and humour.

Forum Response: Rotary International

Brian Stoyel, president of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland, told ePolitix.com: "Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland has for many years supported literacy projects for people of all ages.

"We share Ofsted's concern regarding boys' literacy levels in the United Kingdom. In the next twelve months Rotary is promoting literacy projects for both children and adults.

"Unesco reports that approximately one-quarter of the world's population are functionally illiterate. The United Nations has declared 2003 to 2012 as 'The Decade of Literacy.' With our collective expertise and resources, we can make a significant difference in combating the scourge of illiteracy and we are keen to work more closely with schools.

"Promoting literacy is essential to addressing the larger issues of health, hunger, and poverty. More than 900 million people cannot read or write in any language, and two-thirds of them are women. The benefits of literacy translate into better paying jobs, better-educated parents, and lower dropout rates for schoolchildren. Helping people learn these skills and to become self-sufficient is one of the best tools for fighting poverty and crime.

"Over the years, Rotarians have supported projects ranging from educational programs for preschool children to literacy classes for adults. Many of these are supported by grants from the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.

"Even the smallest effort can have a monumental impact on an individual's life. Simply being able to read a book unlocks the imagination and challenges the mind. Books empower a person to see and experience new things.

"How can Rotary help? Many Rotary clubs have implemented successful literacy projects. Around 30 per cent of projects by clubs through world community service have an element of literacy and numeracy.

"A Rotary Task Force has been set up to provide information and support for Rotary clubs and districts to encourage participation in programmes and projects that promote universal literacy and educational opportunities for all. Emphasis will be given to implementing projects and activities that provide literacy training for children and adults; mentoring for young people; support for community schools; educational opportunities for individuals with low economic resources and vocational training or mentoring for prison inmates

"The Lighthouse Literacy Project, was implemented in Thailand in 1987 as Rotary's first large- scale literacy effort. It incorporates an innovative teaching method called concentrated language encounter (CLE), an immersion program that teaches the spoken and written language in the course of a group activity. The pilot project proved so successful that the Thai Ministry of Education adopted it nationwide. Literacy rates improved from 20 per cent to 90 per cent. Since then, it has served as a model in many other countries.

"The new website enables everyone interested in Rotary CLE projects, or in CLE Lighthouse techniques, to find most of the information they need. Please access the site and register as an affiliate. Rotary Clubs in Great Britain and Ireland welcome approaches from schools to assist with literacy projects."

Forum Response: Association of Teachers and Lecturers

Gwen Evans, joint acting general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said: "The latest Ofsted report is going to be useful to schools in terms of showing ways forward for schools that want to close the gap between girls' and boys' achievement.

"What is less clear is the extent to which class size and school intake factors were crucial in allowing teachers to create the right ethos. ATL is all too well aware from members that poor pupil behaviour and over large classes conspire to hold down achievement. It's the boys who are most vulnerable to the disruption that then occurs.

"Reducing class size would be the biggest contribution to raising achievement - then Ofsted's advice would become a reality."