Exploring Boys' Education (Members Channel)

In the latest episode of the IBSC Exploring Boys’ Education podcast, Mark Dowley from Brighton Grammar School (Australia) shares his expertise on managing classroom attention and behavior in boys' schools. He discusses strategies for engaging energetic or distracted boys, effective ways to handle challenges to authority, and the importance of clear instruction. Dowley also debunks common myths abo...

In the latest episode of the IBSC Exploring Boys’ Education podcast, Gabrielle Mace of St. Augustine’s College (Australia) and Pooja Mathur of The King’s School (Australia) discuss the reasons why boys may feel reluctant to read, including societal factors at play. Discover the cognitive and emotional benefits reading offers boys and learn about strategies educators can employ to foster a reading...

Season 5 kicks off with a special two-part episode featuring Matt Englar-Carlson, a professor at California State University at Fullerton and the director of the Center for Boys and Men. Delve into the heart of boys' education, as Englar-Carlson debunks myths about boys’ mental health and highlights the essence of healthy masculinities. Uncover how schools can foster genuine conversations on mascu...

Season 5 kicks off with a special two-part episode featuring Matt Englar-Carlson, a professor at California State University at Fullerton and the director of the Center for Boys and Men. Delve into the heart of boys' education, as Englar-Carlson debunks myths about boys’ mental health and highlights the essence of healthy masculinities. Uncover how schools can foster genuine conversations on mascu...

Unpack the future of boys' education with IBSC Executive Director Tom Batty as he illuminates how best to equip boys for the opportunities and responsibilities of the 21st century. In this crucial conversation, explore the meaning and benefits of a broad liberal education and consider upcoming trends in boys' education. Batty shares his insights into strategies to counter the stigmas of failure an...

Delve into the intersection of race and gender in boys' schools with Ramón Javier, head of school at George Jackson Academy (United States), who shares insights on how schools can address the crucial aspects of diversity, inclusion, and equity. The discussion covers the unique challenges and opportunities that boys' schools face in fostering an inclusive environment, as well as the initiatives the...

Hear sociologist and anti-violence advocate Ethan Levine (he/him) discuss supporting gender-diverse students in boys' schools. He shares his motivation for advocacy, highlights the importance of this work for all students, and addresses common misconceptions. Levine provides best practices for inclusive environments, mission statements, and language use while emphasizing the impact of policies tha...

Hear professor, author, and licensed clinical psychologist Christopher Reigeluth highlight the importance of having conversations about masculinity in current times. He unpacks the “guy code” and offers advice for educators and leaders in boys’ schools to help boys engage with society’s gender rules and the boxes these rules create. Reigeluth also describes The Masculinity Workbook for Teens, a wo...

Hear from Shannon Frigyik and Thembekile Maseko from St. John’s College Preparatory School (South Africa) and Mark Stenhouse from St. Alban’s College (South Africa) as they reflect on the role of the arts in the lives of boys. Delve into the positive impact music and drama have on younger boys and the skills older boys develop engaging in arts programs that are made accessible to all students. IBS...

Join Charles Bailey and Hannah Fox from Harrow School (United Kingdom) as they chart the development of a curriculum that prepares boys for a life of service, learning, leadership, and fulfilment. Following a recent no-assumptions curriculum review, 2021-22 marked the first year of Harrow's innovative Curriculum 2025. Gain a sense of the best ways to harness boys' development from cognitive, socia...

Join Kori Brown from The Haverford School (United States), Polly Higgins from King Edward’s School (United Kingdom), and Laura Sabo from St. Christopher’s School (United States) as they discuss Brown’s IBSC Action Research project that explores using digital “selfless portraits” to foster cognitive empathy in eighth-grade boys. Brown garnered the 2022 IBSC Action Research award in recognition of h...

Hear from diversity and inclusion strategist Derrick Gay as he addresses the challenges schools may face in developing sustainable diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. He speaks about the hurdles and opportunities presented by schools’ efforts and reflects on the resistance some school communities experience as they strive to become schools where boys belong. Gay offers advice for teac...

Join Tom Batty, principal of Scotch College (Australia), Byron Hulsey, headmaster of Woodberry Forest School (United States), and Tony Reeler, principal of Bishops Diocesan College (South Africa), as they reflect on the new IBSC brochure Boys' Schools Understand and Celebrate Boys. IBSC Exploring Boys’ Education music composed and performed by Tom DiGiovanni. Boys' Schools Understand and Celebrate...

Listen to this two-part episode focused on the importance of helping boys embrace healthy masculinity. In part one, gain insight from Gordon Braxton, author, activist, and educator on sexual violence. In part two, get ideas from Craig Wilkinson, founder and CEO of Father a Nation in South Africa. IBSC Exploring Boys’ Education music composed and performed by Tom DiGiovanni. Empowering Black Boys &...

Listen to this two-part episode focused on the importance of helping boys embrace healthy masculinity. In part two, get ideas from Craig Wilkinson, founder and CEO of Father a Nation in South Africa. In part one, gain insight from Gordon Braxton, author, activist, and educator on sexual violence. IBSC Exploring Boys’ Education music composed and performed by Tom DiGiovanni. Father A Nation &middot...

Hear from Upper Canada College (Canada) Dean of Student Life and Well-Being Scott Cowie and Coordinator of Student Well-Being Programs Laurie Fraser about their approach to enhancing boys’ well-being. Cowie and Fraser highlight the strategy, framework, and intent that underpin the school’s well-being programs and share how they operationalize this strategy to support their boys best. IBSC Explorin...

Find out why it is essential for boys’ schools to educate students about consent and how we can help boys understand the qualities of respectful, healthy relationships. Student safety and healthy relationships expert Katie Koestner focuses on the characteristics of affirmative and enthusiastic consent to illustrate how we can empower boys to move from being bystanders to upstanders in social setti...

Gain invaluable insights about promoting well-being and resilience among all school staff from Andrew Cowley, co-founder of Healthy Toolkit and author of The Wellbeing Toolkit. Cowley explains why it’s important to focus on staff well-being in schools and details a holistic approach for schools to consider. He also offers advice for school leaders and teachers as they strive to create positive sch...

Get insight into the recent IBSC-commissioned report Building Learning Relationships Through the Use of Technology directly from leader of the study Professor Alison Clark-Wilson, principal research fellow at the UCL Knowledge Lab. With a special focus on boys' education, the research illuminates how technology can help and hinder productive learning relationships. Clark-Wilson also offers advice...

As Kate Parker turns her lens on boys, she shows the true emotional depth of a boy in her book, The Heart of a Boy: Celebrating the Strength and Spirit of Boyhood. Hear Parker share the insights she gained from boys as she put this project together—emphasizing boys need to be heard, nurtured, and loved. IBSC Exploring Boys’ Education music composed and performed by Tom DiGiovanni. The Heart of a B...

Join Chris Post, David Dini, and David Ferguson as they reflect on the past 18 months, discuss their current thoughts concerning the education of boys, and examine what’s ahead for IBSC. They emphasize the importance of relationships, belonging, and community; the power of gratitude and hope; and the opportunity we’ve all had to develop new patterns and pursue new challenges, while highlighting th...

Hear from Prince Alfred College (Australia) Headmaster Bradley Fenner and colleagues Greg Atterton and John Stewart about their approach to pastoral care. Their philosophy is closely linked to the responsibility they feel to nurture the unique qualities of each boy and the development of young men of character. Fenner, Atterton, and Stewart shed light on the principles and practices that underpin...

Hear from Brighton Grammar School (Australia) Headmaster Ross Featherston and Ray Swann, director of the school’s Crowther Centre, about their approach to operationalizing positive masculinity. Featherston and Swann highlight the importance of encouraging boys to embody healthy expressions of masculinity, explore the challenges boys’ schools face regarding outdated expressions of masculinity, shed...

Michael Reichert leads the latest discussion on relational teaching, unpacking what it means to become a relational boys’ school. Get expert advice about putting relational learning at the center of school life. Offering encouragement to teachers facing relational challenges with the boys they teach, he shares strategies for schools as they recover relationally from differing levels of pandemic-in...

Following the successful IBSC Ideas Lab about Boys and Sports, get expert insight from Krinesan Moodley of St. Alban’s College (South Africa) and Jo Hackett of The Loughborough Schools Foundation in the United Kingdom. Moodley and Hackett dive into the benefits of sports, positive coaching philosophies in boys’ schools, the dilemma of elite sports’ programs vs. sports for all, and the value of tea...