EDUCATION and employment experts have joined forces to help boys perform as well as girls in exams. New statistics show that 34pc of Bolton boys gained five GCSEs grades A-C last year, compared with 46 pc of girls - one of the biggest discrepancies in the North West. Several schools have been working on initiatives to redress the balance.

Penny Walker, headteacher at Mount St Joseph, Farnworth, said: "A number of youngsters come from households where no-one is working and as a result they do not place a great deal of value on education as there is no role model within their home.

"We are trying to bring in more positive role models, people from industry, from the world of sports and those who did not place any importance on education and now regret it."

The school has introduced single sex classes for English, there are also mentors who work closely with final year students and a revision school is being held in the February half term to prepare pupils for GCSEs in the summer.

The concerns of headteachers and the LEA are also being tackled by Bolton Bury Training and Enterprise Council.

Mark Lloyd, deputy chief executive of the TEC, said: "A number of local initiatives are in place supported by the Single Regeneration Budget in Farnworth. A further bid has been submitted to Government for resources for similar work in Burnden and Tonge Moor.

"It is hoped that these schemes can be extended in the light of the Government's recognition of the problem. The borough is also part of a national pilot called New Start which aims to tackle under-achievement among 14-19 year olds and research is currently underway so that relevant action can be taken."

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