Northern Ireland

Ulster University research to explore why boys underperform in education

Prof Brian Murphy and Susan Morgan with Jude, aged 14. Picture by Nigel McDowell/Ulster University)
Prof Brian Murphy and Susan Morgan with Jude, aged 14. Picture by Nigel McDowell/Ulster University) Prof Brian Murphy and Susan Morgan with Jude, aged 14. Picture by Nigel McDowell/Ulster University)

RESEARCHERS are to investigate the factors that lead to young men underperforming in college and university.

A project by Ulster University (UU) academics hopes to tackle the long-standing under-attainment of males in further and higher education.

Taking Boys Seriously aims to inform future policy, teacher training and youth work.

The gender gap is already well-documented in schools and last year it widened across all grades at A-level with girls outperforming boys significantly.

UU's Widening Access and Participation Plan will fund the latest research.

It will explore how boys progress through the stages of education into adulthood and how they cope with key transition milestones.

The team of Susan Morgan from the School of Applied Social Sciences and Professor Brian Murphy, Director for Access and Participation, said they believed the findings would unlock much needed answers.

"The evidence to date shows us that a significant proportion of young males are both unqualified and uninspired to participate in post-compulsory education. Our concern is that this will lead to a social mobility gap," Prof Murphy said.

"Our research follows a seminal study by the university in 2012 which identified the implications for teaching, supporting and working with boys. Crucially, it highlighted Year 10 - boys aged 14 - as a pivotal intervention stage.

"Our initiative will seek to learn more about the interventions that make the most positive and sustained difference."

Prof Murphy said the team planned to create new models and showcase existing best practice in engaging with some of the most challenging education environments in Europe.

"We are determined that we will open doors for those who are most able but least likely to participate," he said.

"However we cannot act in isolation and a strategic partnership is required across education and civil society. As Northern Ireland’s civic university, Ulster University is making its long-term contribution by investing its own access funds into this research."