Premier Dalton McGuinty is welcoming the idea of creating an all-boys grade school in Toronto.

McGuinty said Wednesday at Queen's Park that he loves the fact that Chris Spence, the education director with the Toronto District School Board, is looking for creative ways to help boys improve their test scores.

McGuinty says all-boys schools would allow boards to develop a special curriculum that addresses the learning challenges they face.

The premier says it's clear boys are not doing as well as girls when it comes to reading and behaviour issues.

McGuinty had not been in favour of Toronto's experiment with an Afrocentric school, but says boys-only would be different because it would include students of all faiths, all colours and all ethnic backgrounds.

Spence also wants to see a number of single-sex classes and boy-friendly programs. He says an all boys school would improve learning and cut high school dropout rates.

Spence also wants the Toronto board to open a male leadership academy for boys from kindergarten to Grade 3 as a kind of alternative school, and would add a new grade each year.

Most, if not all, the teachers at the all boys school would be men if the board accepts Spence's recommendation.