The barriers to boys' achievement and how parents can help boys to break through them -- Too much pressure at pre-school -- Lack of independence -- Boys starting school linguistically less developed -- Physiological needs not met -- Negative attitudes to writing -- Limited interest in reading -- Inability to plan and prepare effectively -- Peer pressure -- The laddish culture -- Emotional ingelligence issues -- A mismatch between how he is expected to work and his preferred way of working -- Poor reflection skills -- Low self-esteem and limiting self-beliefs -- Lack of positive male role models -- Let's hear it from the boys -- Homework -- Revision - Coursework -- Aspirations -- Boys can be turned around -- How schools are responding to the problem.