At St Columba’s, we have been promoting a more positive approach to masculinity for several years and know how important it is to build a culture of inclusion and belonging for everyone within our school community.
The release of the limited series Adolescence on Netflix has sparked conversations surrounding masculinity, misogyny and gendered violence in the mainstream like never before, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer addressing the issue in Parliament and Netflix even agreeing to allow schools in the UK to stream the show free of charge.
What Is Positive Masculinity?
Positive masculinity encourages boys and young men to express themselves in ways that are healthy, respectful, and emotionally intelligent. It allows them to move beyond outdated stereotypes that suggest men must be stoic, dominant, or emotionally restrained. Instead, it highlights traits like empathy, responsibility, humility, and kindness as strengths—not weaknesses.
How St Columba’s is Working to Support Positive Masculinity
For the last few years, we have been running Positive Healthy Masculinity sessions for our SIII boys in partnership with The Anchor (formerly Man On, Inverclyde). In these sessions, Mark and Gary from The Anchor provide a safe space for boys to talk about how they feel about the pressures young men face today and to talk about how they feel about the pressures young men face today.
The School has been aware for some time of the threats posed by social media influencers, such as Andrew Tate, and these sessions are a proactive attempt to help support our pupils by ensuring that we provide positive male role models in school who can offer support and guidance should they ever require it.
Feedback from the most recent sessions was overwhelmingly positive with 82% of pupils reporting that they found the sessions to be enjoyable, helpful and supportive. We are very grateful to The Anchor for their incredible support. They created the model for these sessions based on our specific needs. This model has been so successful that The Anchor have subsequently introduced similar sessions into other schools in Inverclyde.
Why Is This Important in Schools?
- Improving Mental Health
Many boys grow up believing they must hide emotions like sadness or vulnerability. This can lead to bottled-up feelings, anxiety, or even depression. By encouraging emotional openness and seeking help when needed, we can foster environments where all pupils—regardless of gender—feel seen and supported. - Encouraging Respectful Relationships
Positive masculinity teaches boys to respect others’ boundaries, listen actively, and value equality. These are essential qualities for building strong friendships, positive peer relationships, and later, healthy romantic relationships. - Creating a Safer School Environment
By promoting respectful behaviour and challenging harmful gender norms, we help to reduce instances of bullying, harassment, and violence. A school culture rooted in empathy and respect benefits everyone. - Helping All Pupils Thrive
Promoting positive masculinity doesn’t just benefit boys—it creates a more supportive, inclusive school culture for all genders. When stereotypes are dismantled, every student has the freedom to explore their full potential without fear of judgment or limitation.
A Shared Responsibility
Promoting positive masculinity isn’t the job of just one teacher or one department—it’s a whole-school effort. Parents, teachers, and pupils all have a role to play in creating an environment where every individual is valued for who they are, not who they’re told they should be.
Let’s continue to work together to ensure St Columba’s is a place where young men can grow into confident, respectful, and emotionally intelligent individuals. In doing so, we not only support their well-being but help build a more compassionate and inclusive society for all.
You can read more about the amazing work that The Anchor do here.
