THE teachers at Homebush Boys High School devised a clever plan to encourage students to join the Premier's Reading Challenge: they turned it into a contest - against girls.

In the Battle of the Brains, students from year 7 to 9 from Homebush Boys and Birrong Girls high schools compete on their knowledge of the books in the Premier's Reading Challenge, as well as popular culture, geography and Australian trivia.

Scott Worthington, 15, said he had won every competition he went in, and had now become one of the battle's co-ordinators.

''The battle is merely a way to try and enjoy the reading,'' said Scott, who is in year 10. But the girls take a more competitive view. ''I like the competition against the boys because we always come up on top,'' said year 7 student Ayeesha Dandan, 12.

This battle of the sexes is in its fourth year, and year 10 student Gagan Jalandhra, 15, said its popularity was increasing. ''A lot of people have asked how to get involved.''

Matthew Clarke, a senior lecturer in education at the University of NSW, said competition between boys and girls was encouraged, provided it did not emphasise gender stereotypes: ''Intellectual debate and discussion can be great ways for students to formulate their thoughts and ideas and challenge their thinking by testing these ideas out with their peers.''

Registration for the Premier's Reading Challenge is open to students from kindergarten to year 9.

The Premier's Reading Challenge is a NSW government initiative with principal partner Dymocks Children's Charities, supporting partner OPSM and media partner The Sun-Herald.