St Cuthbert’s students tackle men's health issues with Movember challenge

Stiff upper lips were swapped for hairy ones when sixth formers at St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School in Newcastle raised awareness for men’s health.

More than 100 Year 12 and 13 students, along with several members of staff, took part in this year’s Movember Campaign, shaving on 1 November before growing moustaches until the end of the month.

“Year 12 Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education (PSHE) has a strong emphasis on mental health, with Unit Two ‘How Can I Keep My Mind Healthy?’ coinciding with Movember, where students raise awareness and lead on fundraising activities,” explained Deputy Headteacher David Swindells.

“In addition, half of Unit Two lessons focus on suicide prevention, as the latest data tells us that 75 per cent of UK suicides are male, and the North East of England has the highest suicide rate in the UK. Suicide is also the biggest killed of men aged under 50.”

Launched in 2003 in Australia, Movember has since funded more than 1,320 men’s health projects around the world, helping to tackle key issues such as mental health, suicide, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer. Around six million ‘mo bros’ take part in the annual initiative, and it has become a regular fixture on the calendar at St Cuthbert’s for the past three years.

“Aside from further strengthening community bonds, as an all-boys school, we are passionate about issues facing young men,” said Mr Swindells, who supported the event along with Head of Sixth Form Matthew Turner, PE Teachers Sam Cheems and Bruce Glendinning, Head of Computer Science Ian Bolam, Site Manager Tony Storey, Design Technology Teacher Dean Miller, and Assistant Head of Maths Sam Fisher.

Just some of the measures in place at the school include caring pastoral staff, a safe-space room, and counselling services, while students are taught the Movember acronym of ALEC, for ‘Ask’, ‘Listen’, ‘Encourage action’, and ‘Check in’, along with the concept ‘Have a convo, save a bro’.

“Our Catholic Schools Inspection Report 2024, which acknowledges our ‘Catholic Life’ as Outstanding, stated that ‘pastoral care and inclusion are exemplary’,” continued Mr Swindells. “Our recent Ofsted Inspection Report states that ‘pupils are happy’ and ‘have comprehensive pastoral support’.

“Student voice indicates that the boys feel fully supported, know who to speak to in school for support, and are more confident not only in supporting each other, but also in identifying when they need help and how to seek it.”

This year’s Movember student winner was Noah Sanderson in Year 13, who received the ‘Bolam d’Or Trophy’, named in honour of Mr Bolam; while the staff winner was announced as Mr Fisher.

“The whole Sixth Form Team, including staff, gathered in the Common Room with the loudest cheer per moustache winning the overall prize,” added Mr Swindells.

“Young men often feel they have to deal with societal pressures to ‘man up’ and not show or talk about their emotions. We see it as our duty to help challenge this, both to our young men and to wider society in general.”