Boys who do after-school activities do better in exams
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Boys who do after-school activities do better in exams
Hi
Two interesting articles about the role of after school activities, especially sport, which appear to help boys (in particular) do better in exams and school work.
The research suggested that taking part in voluntary activities helped children build higher self-esteem, reduce levels of depression, get greater public recognition throughout the school, make more friends, and reduce drop-out rates.
Would be interested to hear from primary school parents in terms of:
a) which activities they believe work best?
b) the number of after school actvities their DC do, and are too many activites counter-productive ie lead to tiredness and burn-out?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_a ... 418634.ece
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/educa ... 95477.html
Best
Villagedad
Two interesting articles about the role of after school activities, especially sport, which appear to help boys (in particular) do better in exams and school work.
The research suggested that taking part in voluntary activities helped children build higher self-esteem, reduce levels of depression, get greater public recognition throughout the school, make more friends, and reduce drop-out rates.
Would be interested to hear from primary school parents in terms of:
a) which activities they believe work best?
b) the number of after school actvities their DC do, and are too many activites counter-productive ie lead to tiredness and burn-out?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_a ... 418634.ece
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/educa ... 95477.html
Best
Villagedad
I'm not saying that the effect does not exist but the implied causation (after school activities -> better exam performance) is flawed. There may be a correlation between after school activities and exam performance for a number of reasons including:
1. Middle class parents are more willing to go through the hastle of shipping children to and fro from after school activities. They are the same parents willing to invest time and money in helping their children do well in exams.
2. There is a big age factor in sporting performance. Older children do better in sports than younger children in the same year group. Children who are labelled as good at a sport are more likely to want to participate in those sports after school than children who aren't. This age factor also plays out in exams - hence age-based standardisation in the 11 plus.
1. Middle class parents are more willing to go through the hastle of shipping children to and fro from after school activities. They are the same parents willing to invest time and money in helping their children do well in exams.
2. There is a big age factor in sporting performance. Older children do better in sports than younger children in the same year group. Children who are labelled as good at a sport are more likely to want to participate in those sports after school than children who aren't. This age factor also plays out in exams - hence age-based standardisation in the 11 plus.
When son no.1 joined a swim club in Y5, where he swam twice weekly, I did notice a marked improvement in his concentration and school work. Whether this was just a coincidence in maturity and attitude I don't know but it was very noticeable at the time. It could have simply boosted his overall confidence. However, this has had no impact on son no.2, who has done all the same activities.