Heroes or zeroes? The discursive positioning of ‘underachieving boys’ in English neo‐liberal education policy

boys ’ in English neo-liberal education policy Abstract: The moral panic concerning ‘boys ’ underachievement ’ is well established in the UK and Australia, and is spreading to other countries. Feminists have articulated concerns that this debate has reflected a ‘poor boys ’ discourse with negative permutations for girls ’ schooling; and there is much evidence to support this claim. However, it is argued here that as a result of the location of underachievement in the individual rather than with social structures by neo-liberal policy movements, in England certain groups of ‘failing ’ boys are increasingly being problematised rather than valorised. Boys generally are presented as vulnerable and ‘at risk’. The ‘poor boys ’ discourse position these boys as in need of help and attention. But within these practices certain groups of boys beginning to be demonised for their apparent wastefulness of resources and failure to take responsibility for their own