Boys can learn to beat girls at reading if they are given old-fashioned teaching methods, claim psychologists.
Under the synthetic phonics system, children are taught the sounds that make up words rather than guess at entire words from pictures and story context.
A study of synthetic phonics also found children from disadvantaged backgrounds do as well as those from better off homes.
The research, presented at the British Psychological Society's annual conference in York, has underpinned changes being made in the nation's classrooms.
They have been introduced after damning revelations that four in 10 children have failed to master the three Rs by the time they leave primary school.
"Teachers told us they had fewer disciplinary problems and less trouble in the playground because boys were succeeding and had higher self esteem."
Professor Johnston's work has been influential in persuading the Government to re-write its national literacy hour - returning to a system that dates back to Victorian times.
Synthetic phonics fell out of favour in the 1960s and 1970s in favour of progressive 'child-centred' learning that was championed for decades by educationalists in the Labour movement.
ED: Another serious error by well-meaning Labour socialists that has damaged thousands of children. Will they ever learn to take more care
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