Hugh Muir
Monday March 7, 2005

Trevor Phillips, who chairs the Commission for Racial Equality, is calling for tough measures to address the underachievement of black boys. In a BBC documentary he will suggest that black boys failing to thrive in particular subjects might be taught in separate classes from their white counterparts.

He questions whether policies which strive to treat black boys "equally" are sufficient, given the extent to which they so often lag behind, and calls for authorities to recruit more black male teachers by paying the "extra cash" if need be.

He says: "A tough new strategy would compel black fathers to be responsible fathers. If they can't be bothered to turn up for parents' evening, should they expect automatic access to their sons and should boys who can't make the grade in maths be allowed to make the football team?

"We need more male black teachers, tempting them with extra cash if necessary and if the only way to break through the wall of attitude that surrounds black boys is to teach them separately for some subjects then we should be ready to try that too."

Last year 35.7% of black Caribbean pupils in England scored at least five C grades at GCSE, compared with a national average of 51.9%. Black boys are also more likely to be excluded than any other group.

Mr Phillips commends the sincerity of teachers and headteachers working hard to tackle underachievement but he says a change of approach may be necessary. "I get the sneaking feeling that their commitment to treating every child equally prevents them from accepting black boys may need to be treated as a special group. We need to embrace some new if unpalatable ideas both at home and at school."

As part of the documentary Inside Out, Mr Phillips visits St Louis, Missouri, where schools have introduced programmes to encourage fathers to become more involved in their sons' education, and to raise students' self-esteem by offering guidance and attractive trips. Pupils can only stay on this programme if they get good grades.

Chris Keates, general secretary of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers, said schools often used sports to stimulate youngsters' interest in academic subjects and rejected the idea that schools should get involved in issues of contact between parents and their children.

Martin Ward, deputy general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association, said the proposals did not sound very sensible. "Clearly there is scope for schools to help all children that are doing badly, and many are already doing that, but to single out black children for special treatment could be counterproductive and even illegal."

· Inside Out: BBC1 (London area), 7.30pm

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