Healthy Masculinity Workshops for Schools is a practical guide for post-primary pastoral teams, heads of year, LLW leads and senior leaders.
The focus is supporting boys and young men to talk about pressure, respect, emotions and relationships in a safe school setting. HIP Psychology supports schools across Northern Ireland and Ireland with pupil workshops, staff training, parent sessions and whole-school wellbeing planning.
Why this topic matters
Some pupils receive narrow messages about strength, emotion and status. A careful workshop can create healthier discussion without blame, shame or unsafe personal disclosure.
What schools should decide before delivery
- Which year group is ready for the topic
- How examples will stay respectful
- What safeguarding boundaries apply
- How staff will handle difficult questions
Practical activities that can help
- Pressure message mapping
- Respect scenarios
- Emotion language practice
- Help-seeking reflection
How staff can follow up afterwards
Staff can link the session to LLW, pastoral care, relationships education and wider work on respect, peer pressure and online influence.
Where this fits in a whole-school approach
This topic can sit within a wellbeing calendar, pastoral care policy, school development plan or staff training programme. The aim is to make support visible before concerns become harder to manage.
How HIP Psychology can help
HIP Psychology can deliver support around healthy masculinity workshops schools as a pupil workshop, staff CPD session, parent evening or consultancy input for a wider school wellbeing programme.
Useful guidance for schools
Schools can align this work with Department of Education emotional health and wellbeing guidance, Department of Education safeguarding and child protection guidance, Department of Education effective practice in educational settings, Public Health Agency Take 5 wellbeing resources.
Related HIP Psychology resources
Related resources include school wellbeing consultancy, training for schools, programmes for schools, mental health workshops for schools, pastoral care training, contact HIP Psychology.
Need help planning this? Contact HIP Psychology to discuss workshops, training or whole-school support.
FAQs
What should healthy masculinity workshops schools include?
It should include a clear purpose, age-appropriate examples, safe boundaries, practical activities, staff follow-up and signposting routes for pupils, families or staff who need more support.
How can schools keep this work safe?
Use scenarios rather than personal disclosure, brief staff before sensitive topics, keep safeguarding routes clear and avoid asking pupils to share private experiences in front of peers.
Can HIP Psychology adapt this for different school settings?
Yes. HIP Psychology can adapt pupil workshops, staff training, parent sessions and consultancy support for primary, post-primary and whole-school wellbeing priorities.