Authors

Mark Roberts
Mark Roberts

Mark Roberts is director of research at Carrickfergus Grammar School in Northern Ireland.

He is the author of several bestselling books, including Boys Don’t Try? and The Boy Question. He is a member of the Northern Ireland Curriculum Taskforce Advisory Committee.

All articles by Mark Roberts
Why funny teachers aren’t (usually) better teachers
Humour is one of the traits that students value most in their teachers. But can cracking jokes actually make your teaching better? Mark Roberts takes a look at the research
General
22 April 2026
Laurel and hardy
Why your retrieval practice might not be working
The benefits of spaced retrieval practice are well known, but the importance of introducing variability in this process is often overlooked, writes Mark Roberts
General
12 February 2026
Dog jumping in water after toy balls
How ‘process goals’ can improve student performance
Research shows that some types of goals are much more likely to lead to academic success, writes Mark Roberts, as he explains how teachers can help students to set them
General
7 January 2026
Children playing darts
5 tactics for impressing in interview lessons
Interview lessons can make or break a new job opportunity so prepare thoroughly with these top tips
General
28 November 2025
How teachers can impress in interview lessons
Do ‘fear appeals’ really motivate students to work harder?
Warning pupils about the consequences of not putting effort into their studies can backfire, writes Mark Roberts, who shares some alternative approaches to motivate classes
General
20 November 2025
Teachers using fear appeals to motivate students rarely works, research shows
Why schools have an impostor syndrome problem
Evidence shows teachers are vulnerable to persistent feelings of inadequacy, and this can have wide-ranging negative effects for schools, finds Mark Roberts
General
1 October 2025
White king chess piece in mirror