Review of Strategies to Address Gender Inequalities in Scottish ...

Staff interviewed thought that a particular strength of the strategy was the fact that it wasa whole school approach that involved parents as well as staff and pupils. Changes hadbeen made to the ways in which they communicated with parents at, for example,parents’ nights. Considerable time had been spent on ‘awareness-raising’ and onconsulting with staff, parents and pupils. This had been complemented by in-house staffdevelopment on related issues such as learning styles. On the downside, there were somesubjects that did not readily adapt to the National Qualifications format.They had encountered a number of obstacles, including the attitudes of some parents andstaff who had not been convinced of the need for change. In addition, some parents heldtraditional views of appropriate roles and career options for their sons and daughters.B. Theme: developing emotional literacyOne primary school had developed a series of strategies designed to address the verychallenging behaviour of some boys: behaviour that was impacting on the attainment ofthose boys in particular and on the classroom climate generally. Unfortunately, thecoordinator of the initiative was ill at the time of the study and, as a result, the report wascompiled from a brief visit to the school to meet the headteacher and a telephoneinterview with the coordinator, supplemented by information from the school handbook.i. Background of the schoolThe school is a denominational primary school which, in earlier years, had been acombined primary and secondary school. When the secondary department moved to itspresent location, the primary department remained in the original accommodation andwas re-named. Its buildings are traditional and centrally situated. Many parents andgrandparents within the community attended the school and maintain close ties with it.The area has suffered from a degree of deprivation in the past.______________________________________________________________________________________Review of Strategies to 39 University of StrathclydeAddress Gender Inequalitiesand University of Glasgow