Bosses were today urged to give fathers an hour off work to spend with their sons in a bid to improve boys' performance at school.

Stephen Twigg, the minister for young people and learning, was launching the Dads and Sons Give an Hour programme, being piloted by electrical retailer Comet.

A Department for Education and Skills spokeswoman said the scheme was targeting boys as they were more likely to underachieve at school.

She said: "We want to encourage employers to see how an hour can make a difference."