A FENLAND children’s charity is attempting to help boys catch up with girls in the classroom.

Ormiston Children & Families Trust, which runs the Sure Start children’s centres in March and Chatteris, is holding a four-week Raising Boys parenting course to improve boys education and bridge the gender gap in academic achievement.

Marc James, Ormiston’s senior practitioner and course leader, said it’s important that parents try and get their sons motivated about education.

He also says it is crucial they have positive male role models to look up to and emulate from an early age.

He said: “Boys are falling behind academically and are taking longer to settle into school life - we are trying to reverse this pattern.

“The course is mainly aimed at single mothers with boys between aged 11 and under, and it’s designed to give them a bit more confidence in bringing up their son by looking at what types of discipline and boundaries work particularly well with boys, because their behaviour is slightly different from girls.

“As well as looking at the importance of role models, Raising Boys also focuses on boys’ behaviour in certain environments.

“Obviously school is one of the major environments where children need to sit and learn, so we talk about what can be done to get boys to engage and settle into school more quickly.”

The next Raising Boys course starts on April 26 at Chatteris Children’s Centre and runs from 12.30-2.30pm.

Booking is essential. For more information or to book a place on the upcoming Raising Boys contact the children’s centre on 01354 697739 or email chatteris@ormiston.org.