Educating boys academically, socially, and emotionally

Mrs Maria Hodges Head of Junior School

Much has been written about single-gender education.

We spoke to Maria Hodges, Head of Junior School on how learning is tailored at Scotch to ensure the boys are on the best possible learning journey.

What are the benefits of an all-boy education in Junior School?

Boys and girls have very different learning styles and preferences. An all-boys environment allows for teachers to utilise and target teaching methods that better suit boys’ learning styles, leading to improved academic, social and emotional outcomes.

Our teachers also love the energy and enthusiasm boys bring into the classroom, whereas, in co-educational environments boys can be viewed as disruptive or boisterous and those not trained in knowing how to reach and teach boys can find boys challenging in the classroom.

In your experience do boys learn differently from girls and how do you shape your curriculum to get the best from the boys academically, socially, and emotionally?

Boys and girls have significantly different learning styles and benefit in having an environment that caters specifically to this. Some general observations about the way boys learn include:

• Boys benefit from opportunities for movement and hands-on learning. Incorporating activities that allow them to physically engage with the material can be effective and help make the learning stick.

• Boys are motivated by competition and challenges which keeps them engaged and teaches them persistence and perseverance.

• Boys respond well to visual stimuli which can enhance their understanding of concepts.

• Boys benefit from clear, measurable goals and objectives which keep them focused and motivated.

To shape the curriculum to best support boys academically, socially, and emotionally, our teachers use the following strategies:

• Curriculum Differentiation which means, tailoring instruction to target exactly the point of need of each student. Teaching methods are then incorporated to accommodate different learning styles and paces, providing opportunities for both independent and collaborative learning as well as ensuring we provide extension and learning support for boys as required.

• Positive Reinforcement to foster a sense of accomplishment and motivation to succeed.

• Developing Character by incorporating activities and discussions that promote social and emotional learning, such as empathy, resilience, and communication skills. This helps boys with a holistic approach to their learning.

• Engagement in our Primary Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate which is a framework that allows us to use curriculum materials and topics that are relevant and interesting to our boys, keeping them engaged and invested in their learning. Once you have boys ‘hooked’ the learning explodes. When strong cross-curriculum links are made and the boys link the learning areas together, the ‘why’ of learning makes sense to them which further engages them.

• Supportive Environments create an inclusive classroom where boys feel comfortable expressing themselves and taking academic risks to challenge and extend their learning. They are free from the constant comparisons they often face with girls in the classroom.

“My son is sensitive and doesn’t like sport.” We often hear this from parents who may be concerned about an all-boy education. How would you put their minds at ease that there is space for every boy’s passion at Scotch and that selfexpression is accepted and celebrated?

Our all-boy education model is not about conforming to stereotypes but about providing a supportive and inclusive environment where boys can be themselves and pursue their interests without judgment. We believe that by embracing diversity in interests and talents, we can help each boy discover his unique strengths and potential, be this around an academic focus, sport, or the arts. To do this we embrace and celebrate the diverse interests and passions of all our students. Many of our boys are sensitive and we celebrate this and help them to discover what wonderful attributes they have as individuals.