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Schools told to teach boys netball
By Jessica Salter and Graeme Paton
Last Updated: 2:35am GMT 28/12/2007
Schools have been told to encourage boys to play netball and take dance lessons in the name of equality.
Thousands of schools are being forced to ensure that pupils are more "gender balanced" as part of discrimination legislation introduced this year.
They must also ensure more girls study traditionally masculine subjects such as science, while increasing numbers of boys take options such as drama or dance.
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Some single-sex schools have even been warned, wrongly, that they may be breaking the law if their application procedure shows "imbalance" towards boys or girls.
Buckinghamshire county council asks schools to ensure they challenge gender stereotyping.
It advises schools to develop open-minded attitudes in children and promote positive role models for both boys and girls.
Last night, the guidance was criticised by head teachers, who said they were already struggling under the strain of bureaucracy.
Mick Brookes, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "It doesn't make any sense to promote things to boys that they don't want to do, simply so you can tick a box on a form."
All companies and public bodies have to promote equal opportunity policies under the gender equality duty, which came into force in April.
By Jessica Salter and Graeme Paton
Last Updated: 2:35am GMT 28/12/2007
Schools have been told to encourage boys to play netball and take dance lessons in the name of equality.
Thousands of schools are being forced to ensure that pupils are more "gender balanced" as part of discrimination legislation introduced this year.
They must also ensure more girls study traditionally masculine subjects such as science, while increasing numbers of boys take options such as drama or dance.
advertisement
Some single-sex schools have even been warned, wrongly, that they may be breaking the law if their application procedure shows "imbalance" towards boys or girls.
Buckinghamshire county council asks schools to ensure they challenge gender stereotyping.
It advises schools to develop open-minded attitudes in children and promote positive role models for both boys and girls.
Last night, the guidance was criticised by head teachers, who said they were already struggling under the strain of bureaucracy.
Mick Brookes, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "It doesn't make any sense to promote things to boys that they don't want to do, simply so you can tick a box on a form."
All companies and public bodies have to promote equal opportunity policies under the gender equality duty, which came into force in April.
