FIVE-year-old boys in the town fall behind girls in education before they have even started school according to recent research.

A national report by Save the Children found that more than 26 per cent of five-year-old boys in Warrington did not meet the standards in basic language and communication skills.

The charity said this puts their chances of being successful later in life at risk.

The research showed that five-year-old girls in Warrington are 10 per cent more likely to make the grade and education experts at the University of Chester said this gender gap is nothing new.

Dr Chandrika Devarakonda, senior lecturer at the faculty of education and children’s services, said: “The female teaching workforce may influence the learning of girls positively. Girls seems to be better rewarded by teachers than boys.”

Dr Devarakonda pointed to research showing that boys and girls learn differently and that academic success is seen as ‘uncool’ by young boys.

Boys have been found to interrupt lessons more often than girls but they are less likely to ask for help and academics say boys tend to overestimate their abilities.

Dr Devarakonda said: “Male teachers may provide a positive environment, attitude, role models and encouragement to boys to ensure they can achieve to the best of their potential.”

Debbie Ravenscroft, senior lecturer in early childhood studies, said the report shows the need for highly skilled teachers.

She said: “There are different methods of early years education, including those which seek to promote a way of learning which is active and fosters the natural curiosity of very young boys.

“This can involve using books as platforms for role play, planning outdoor activities which focus on language and literacy, and drawing on imaginative play to promote language through stories, rhymes and poetry, both indoors and outdoors.

“Less sitting and more doing in reception and year one is the message!”