Last week, Eton College hosted the International Boys’ Schools Coalition (IBSC) conference on ‘Helping Boys Cope with a Rapidly Changing World’. The conference examined the crucial issues of gender identity, mental well-being and adolescent development, whilst finishing the day with a session that explored the ways schools can create more effective models of pastoral care.
Speakers included:
* Author, TV/radio pundit, mental health champion and leader of the Self Esteem Team, Natasha Devon MBE, who is an expert on self-esteem, body image and mental health * Award-winning writer, activist and founder of the Everyday Sexism Project, Laura Bates, who promotes gender equality * Ian Morris, leader of the Well-being programme at Wellington College, Berkshire * Eton Lower Master (Deputy Head) Dr. Bob Stephenson, who collaborates with the Oxford University Centre for Emotion and Affective Neuroscience and the Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, to research cognitive bias modification and risk-taking behaviour in adolescence
Conference Organiser Mike Grenier said: "Boys’ schools like Eton are fully aware of their duty to prepare young men for the complexities of modern life and each speaker challenged preconceptions, offered practical advice and ensured that all delegates felt able to engage in a deep and meaningful dialogue. I think all who attended came away better informed about ways in which they and their schools can make a very real difference to the lives of the boys in their care".
Founded in 1995, the IBSC is a not-for-profit organisation that connects dedicated educators worldwide to discover the best learning practices for boys. Members join a coalition of professionals who are committed to advancing schools and the learning experience for boys.
To find out more about the IBSC, visit their website: https://www.theibsc.org/
