Proving What’s Possible: Transforming Outcomes for Disadvantaged Boys

The UK has long grappled with a persistent educational attainment gap, particularly for disadvantaged boys. I remember in my early teaching career trying to embed a ‘lads and dads’ programme in the school I was working with in a too simplistic attempt to improve engagement.

Like lots of things, the learning from then until now is that the solution isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, that’s why we at Lexonic have been so inspired by our involvement in the "Boys' Impact Collaboration with United Learning: Addressing the gap with Disadvantaged Boys Pilot Project".

This groundbreaking collaboration between United Learning and Boys' Impact explored how a targeted, collaborative model built on principles of relationships, respect and student voice could have the potential to improve attendance, engagement, behaviour and personal development.

The project ran from September 2024 to June 2025, the pilot phase worked with 206 boys across 17 secondary academies to implement a new approach guided by the Taking Boys Seriously (TBS) principles. The results were more than just statistics—they were personal transformations.

Key Insights from the Report: A Framework for Change

The report offers a valuable framework for all of us dedicated to this work, highlighting several core principles that were central to the positive outcomes.

A Focus on Relationships and Student Voice:

• The report confirms that meaningful engagement with boys and their families is a primary factor in a boy's motivation and aspirations.
• This led to changes deeper than statistics, with boys reporting they felt happier, more confident, and better able to express their emotions.
• By building trusting relationships with staff and feeling their voice was valued, boys developed a greater sense of ownership and belonging.

The Power of Preventative Strategies:

• The project showed the clearest positive impacts when working with boys who showed early signs of disengagement, reinforcing the value of preventative over reactive approaches.
• This resulted in marked improvements in attendance and behaviour, including reductions in truancy, lesson removals, and suspensions.

Lexonic are incredibly proud to have been chosen as one of the case studies in the report, with Barnsley Academy. The school implemented a targeted literacy strategy using Lexonic and fluency interventions. This aimed to ensure all participating boys achieved a reading level of STANINE 4 or above.

Lexonic’s Impact In Action:

• Attendance Improved: School attendance for the cohort rose by 4.5%, from 85.1% to 89.6%.
• Reading Scores Increased: The average SAS (Standard Age Score) for reading improved significantly from 89 to 99.
• Literacy Target Achieved: 9 out of 10 boys successfully met the programme's target of reading at STANINE 4 or above.

The pilot's success highlights the potential for a national impact, shifting policy and practice toward more equitable and empowering learning environments. By valuing a boy's story beyond his grades, we can reignite his motivation and help him build a future he wants to be a part of. This project proves that when we take boys seriously, we empower a whole community.

Read the full report.

Discover how Lexonic can be part of your school's success story.