'Give fathers time off to help sons'

Fathers could be given time off work to spend with their sons in a government campaign to boost boys' exam results.

Ministers today urged firms to offer an hour's paid leave to every working father with a son aged from 11 to 14 - the key time when boys fall behind at school. Unions praised the Dads and Sons Give an Hour campaign. But business leaders complained that it would prove costly and cause resentment in the workplace.

Ministers see the hour's leave as a one-off gesture, not part of a regular scheme. Those who do not qualify include fathers with daughters and those whose sons are younger than 11.

Fathers will be expected to spend their hour "pursuing educational activities". A booklet from the Department for Education gives ideas for games, quizzes, visits and nature walks. Store chain Comet will be the first firm to take part, giving eligible workers an hour off next month.

Test results show that by 14, girls score far higher than boys in English.