Matt Knibb Mental Health Training
Tonic Masculinity for Schools
It is becoming painfully clear that gender‑based hatred is increasingly being normalised among children in British schools. Surveys show that more than one in three secondary teachers report sexist behaviour from pupils as a weekly occurrence, and around 40 % say they feel unprepared to tackle it (HuffPost UK+4The Standard+4Wikipedia+4BBC).
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Support staff report disturbing incidents: one in ten female staff in secondary schools say they've been sexually harassed by pupils (or even male colleagues), including physical advances and lewd remarks (The Guardian+2ITVX+2UNISON National+2). Primary schools are not exempt: an investigation led by a national charity uncovered reports of harassment, groping, and sexist name‑calling in over 1,600 primary schools, involving children as young as five (The Standard+13thetimes.co.uk+13AP News+13).
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Despite a surge of initiatives aimed at managing the visible symptoms—like workshops, assemblies or new curriculum units—too many of these efforts fail to address what lies at the heart of the crisis. At its root is a crisis of self‑esteem and confidence among young people. Many children absorb harmful online messages about gender and identity, leaving them vulnerable to either perpetuating or internalising hateful attitudes—boys may feel a need to dominate to prove themselves, while girls may believe they must choose between “feminine” and “intelligent” (BBCBBC).
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What we urgently need is not just more symptom‑management, but early, confidence‑building support. Unless children are helped to develop a healthier sense of self-worth, and to critically question the toxic messages they encounter online, these patterns of hatred will only continue to grow. In short: teaching more lessons about respectful conduct is vital—but unless we also strengthen young people’s confidence and self‑belief, the next generation will still absorb the same ideas via social media and peer pressure.
Tonic Masculinity: A Whole-School Approach to Reframing Gender Based Issues.
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Designed to spark meaningful, school-wide change, this one-day course offers a comprehensive and engaging approach to exploring modern masculinity and femininity with secondary-aged pupils. The day includes a morning staff briefing to set the tone, a targeted assembly for the year group(s) most in need, a full day of interactive, age-appropriate seminars with class groups, and an end-of-day wrap-up with teaching staff to reflect and plan practical next steps.
This isn’t a box-ticking exercise; it's a catalyst for lasting culture shift. The course tackles the roots of gender-based tension in schools by focusing on emotional literacy, self-worth, and healthy identity formation.
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Along with being an accredited Mental Health instructor I bring over 20 years of experience in education, having taught learners of all ages and abilities—from early years and SEND to foundation degree level. I’ve also worked as a coach in elite sports environments, and I host a podcast exploring mental health and human connection.
My background allows me to relate authentically to both students and staff. I understand the challenges schools face, and I know how to create spaces where honest, respectful conversations can happen. My goal is to empower young people to better understand themselves and others, while giving teachers the tools and insight to keep that momentum going. This course is not just informative; it’s designed to be memorable, motivating, and genuinely transformative.
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Cost
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This full-day course is offered at £540 and includes everything needed to spark meaningful, school-wide change: a morning staff briefing to set the tone, a tailored assembly for the year group(s) most in need, a full day of interactive seminars with class groups, and a wrap-up session with teachers to explore practical next steps. To support long-term impact, your pastoral leads will also receive a curated reading list designed to deepen understanding and sustain momentum in this vital area of work.
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After the course
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I encourage your school to take an honest, evidence-led approach in evaluating the impact of this one-day intervention. While positive feedback is always appreciated, what’s most valuable is clear, measurable insight into how and where this training has influenced attitudes, behaviours, or culture within your setting. Setting specific performance metrics—whether around student engagement, language use, incident reporting, or staff confidence—will help you assess its effectiveness. More importantly, robust data helps ensure that this kind of training delivers lasting change, not just a one-off experience. It also gives me the clarity I need to continue refining the course for maximum relevance and impact.
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