Impactful · Sustainable · Affordable
Helping boys create cultures of mutual respect in school
Working with Boys is a whole-school programme that helps boys from Year 3 upwards grow into confident, dignified and reflective young men who treat others with genuine respect.
Through this training, teachers learn how to guide and shape boys’ peer cultures so that mutual respect becomes the norm, empowering girls and driving out misogyny and harmful behaviours.
"Just had our first Working with Boys session. It was amazing! Everything I had hoped it would be and a lot more too."
Deputy Head, Primary
The Working with Boys Approach
What is Working with Boys?
Why Working with Boys
Build a culture
that changes behaviour
Working with Boys is founded on a simple belief: harmful behaviour, misogyny and sexual misconduct are not inevitable parts of growing up. With the right training, delivered by the right people, schools can help boys build cultures of mutual respect.
Read our story →
A whole-school approach
Working with Boys is a curriculum-based programme for boys from Year 3 upwards. Staff learn how to shape peer cultures so mutual respect becomes the norm, empowering girls and driving out misogyny and harmful sexual behaviour.
What staff gain
- Support boys to self-regulate their behaviour and language, forming relational cultures built on dignity.
- Help girls feel genuinely safe in school, protected from harmful behaviours and free to learn and lead with confidence.
What schools will see
- Improve behaviour and attendance by making school feel safe and
- Enhance engagement and attainment by removing peer cultures that are threatening and oppressive.
Getting Started
How do I get started?
Tap any tile to read the full answer.
How does it work?
Some boys in Years 3–13 struggle with motivation, self-expression and social development. Some may also engage in harmful sexual behaviour towards girls and women. Negative peer cultures can leave boys unhappy and unfulfilled, encouraging damaging forms of masculinity that affect everyone, particularly girls.
Schools have a crucial opportunity to intervene while these cultures are forming, helping boys build relationships based on mutual respect.
The Working with Boys programme uses guided reflection, relatable dilemmas, role play and discussion across 13 lessons. It helps boys understand how regulate their actions and develop healthier ways of relating.
The programme is particularly effective at the start of Year 7, but can be introduced from Year 3 and then reinforced through KS 3, 4 and 5.
How do I access this?
Online training is asynchronous and takes around four to five hours to complete. Staff can work through the material at their own pace and at times that suit them.
INSET training covers the same content in person and also takes around four to five hours. Delegates should attend the full session to gain the understanding they need to use the programme effectively.
Whichever option you choose, this is more than simply acquiring a new skill. It gives staff a detailed understanding of boys’ experiences of school life, helping the whole school community work together to guide positive, lasting culture change.
What are my next steps?
- Decide how many people to train. Most schools start with at least one trained practitioner per year group.
- Or start smaller with one or two people and see how it goes before rolling out further.
- Book online training or an INSET training day, and we'll take it from there.
Our Programmes
Training built for real
school challenges
Choose the format that fits your school, delivered online, in person,
or as part of a full INSET training day.
INSET Training
Andrew Hampton delivers in-person training for your whole staff in a single day, tailored to your context.
Learn more →Other Resources
Not ready to book? Start here.
The Book
Andrew Hampton's book sets out the thinking behind the programme and contains all the lesson plans to teach it. Available from £22.
Get the book →Watch the Film
This award-winning short film is an insightful and devastating look at boys' school life. Best Short Film Script, London International Filmmakers Festival, 2026.
Get free access →Frequently asked questions
What ages is this training suitable for?
Designed for primary and secondary-age boys, from Key Stage 2 to post-16.
Is this training statutory-compliant?
Yes, mapped to KCSiE 2026 guidance.
Can we start with something small?
Yes, online training is available per person, so you can trial with a small group first.
Is the programme suitable for SEND and/or neurodiverse children?
Yes, the programme is suitable for all pupils.
How can schools prevent harmful sexual behaviour and misogyny?
Prevention works best through a whole-school approach with regularly timetabled lessons delivered by trained staff, not one-off visiting speakers. Schools need to build a culture of zero tolerance for sexism, misogyny, misandry, and sexual harassment into the curriculum and behaviour policy, delivered consistently by their own team who understand their pupils.
Why do boys modify their behaviour to avoid humiliation?
Fear of humiliation and peer validation are powerful drivers of boys' behaviour. Boys often change how they act to avoid embarrassment in front of their peers, meaning the audience around them matters more than adult responses. Understanding this allows schools to create relational cultures based on mutual respect and dignity rather than relying on traditional discipline approaches.
What makes relational culture important for boys' behaviour in schools?
Boys' behaviour is shaped by the relational culture and hierarchies within their peer groups, not just by individual incidents. Understanding which individuals influence what's seen as acceptable behaviour, and how boys relate to each other, is more powerful than responding to isolated misbehaviour. This approach helps schools influence the culture itself.
How is misandry addressed in the new KCSiE guidance?
The new KCSiE mentions misandry alongside misogyny, creating zero tolerance for both. This means schools must tackle harmful attitudes toward boys as well as girls, avoiding the 'boys are the problem' framing that can make boys defensive. True whole-school safeguarding requires supporting relational health across all genders.
Got questions?
Send us a message.
Tell us a bit about your school and we'll recommend the right starting point, no obligation.
Not sure which option fits best?
Book a call with Andrew to talk through the right starting point.