Lads and English

This article explores some of the issues raised by the perennial ‘Boys and English’ debate. It questions whether stereotypically masculine or ‘laddish’ behaviour and the apparent ‘feminisation’ of English hinders the achievements within the subject of all boys. A study of a selective independent boys' school reveals that social context greatly influences how boys relate to the subject, suggesting that it is unhelpful to make generalisations about ‘boys’ and English. The analysis frames the fieldwork with reference to media debate, Ofsted reports, and the literature on gender and English.