Boys and Schooling in the Early Years

There has been a massive spotlight on the increasing gap in educational achievement between boys and girls, and the debate surrounding boys' underachievement is a worldwide concern. Given the importance the government has placed on early years care and early intervention programs, it's particularly surprisingly that until now such little attention has been given to how and when boys start to underachieve in the early years, and what can be done to reverse any early patterns of development. Boys and Schooling in the Early Years draws upon original research to examine the specific issues affecting boys and education in the first three years of schooling, and uses this research as a basis from which to explore the implications for teachers and early years professionals working with young boys.

Paul Connolly is Reader in Education at Queen's University, Belfast.