Closing the Gap: Supporting the educational attainment and progression of working-class boys
Our Expert Speaker Programme offers valuable CPD for education professionals on a variety of topics
When is it?
(Past event no longer taking bookings)
The gap in GCSE attainment for young men who are eligible for Free School Meals is one of the most entrenched challenges facing the English educational system. In 2021 just 13% of young white men who were eligible for Free Schools Meals progressed into Higher Education. This session will explore the elements which contribute toward disparities in boy’s attainment, debunk myths and assumptions surrounding effective practice, and introduce a possible way forward in meeting the challenge.
- Teachers in schools and colleges
- Support staff in schools and colleges
- Practitioners or other staff members working with young people aged 11+
- Anyone interested in closing the gap in GCSE attainment for young men who are eligible for free school meals
Presenter Information
Alex has worked as a researcher and professional in widening access to Higher Education for the last decade. Following the completion of his PhD in 2020, Dr Alex Blower founded Boys Impact. The organisation is a UK wide network of educators working to close the gap in GCSE outcomes for boys who are eligible for Free School Meals. Alongside his job as Access and Participation Development Manager at Arts University Bournemouth, Alex is a Research Fellow in Social Justice and Creative Research Methods and writes regularly for national and international publications.
