“When boys feel connected, they thrive. When boys feel understood, they open up. When boys feel supported, they grow into men who can support others.”— Mr Michael Hall, Head of Pastoral Care
Adolescent boys today are growing up in a world louder, faster and more demanding than ever before.
Social media influencers, hyper‑masculine stereotypes and the pressure to “perform” academically, socially and emotionally can distort a young man’s sense of self long before he has the tools to understand what he’s feeling.
Toowoomba Grammar School (TGS) has recognised this challenge and responded with intention. Through a bespoke Pastoral Care model and a powerful partnership with Tomorrow Man and other leading professionals, the School is reshaping how boys understand identity, connection and what it truly means to grow into healthy young men.
This is not just wellbeing work. It’s identity work. And the results are speaking for themselves.
The Modern World Is Shaping Boys: But Not Always for the Better
Today’s adolescent boys are navigating:
- Over‑masculated social norms that reward toughness but discourage vulnerability.
- Social media influencers who promote unrealistic lifestyles and narrow definitions of success.
- Digital comparison culture, where boys measure themselves against curated images and online personas.
These forces can leave boys feeling confused about who they are and who they’re supposed to be. Tomorrow Man’s workshops at TGS help boys unpack these pressures, challenge outdated stereotypes and explore what healthy masculinity looks like in 2025, not 1955.
What Boys Really Think: Listening Before Leading
One of the most powerful aspects of the TGS–Tomorrow Man partnership is that it gives boys space to speak honestly. When boys are invited to share what’s actually going on beneath the surface, the insights are profound and often surprising.
This shift toward open dialogue is reflected in the data. In 2024, only 23% of TGS students felt they had a staff member they could trust when facing challenges. After one year of targeted wellbeing and character development work, that number rose to 77%.
That is not a small improvement. That is a cultural shift.
A Bespoke Pastoral Care Model That Works
TGS’s Pastoral Care Program - anchored in the philosophy "Give it, Live it, Love it" - has been intentionally aligned with Tomorrow Man’s approach to identity formation. The result is a wellbeing framework that is:
- Relational, not transactional
- Proactive, not reactive
- Character‑focused, not compliance‑focused
Staff have been trained to build genuine connections with boys, creating an environment where students feel seen, supported and understood. This is not about “fixing problems” - it’s about building resilience, belonging and self‑awareness before problems escalate.
And the data shows the impact.
The Results: A Stronger Sense of Identity, Belonging and Wellbeing
Across every major wellbeing indicator, TGS students have shown dramatic improvement from 2024 to 2025:
Academic and Study‑Related Challenges
- 51% of students reported challenges in 2025
- Down from 81% in 2024
- 8% lower than the state average
Mental Health and Wellbeing Issues
- 20% of students reported concerns in 2025
- Down from 57% in 2024
- 19% lower than the state average
Physical Health Issues
- 11% of students reported issues in 2025
- Down from 47% in 2024
- 10% lower than the state average
Bullying Concerns
- 9% of students expressed concern in 2025
- Down from 23% in 2024
- 1% lower than the state average
These improvements are not accidental. They are the direct result of a school community investing deeply in connection, character and the emotional literacy of boys.
Why This Matters
TGS is not just teaching boys how to succeed academically. It is teaching them how to navigate the complexities of modern masculinity with confidence, empathy and authenticity.
The partnership with Tomorrow Man is helping boys rewrite the script - moving away from outdated expectations and toward a healthier, more grounded sense of identity.
A School That Lives Its Virtues and Creed
The transformation happening at Toowoomba Grammar School is a testament to the dedication of its staff and the strength of its wellbeing vision.
TGS Pastoral Care – Give it, Live it, Love it. It’s
more than a motto. It’s a movement. And it’s changing the lives of boys, one honest conversation
at a time.
Latest Blog
The Benefits of Repeated Reading
An effective and evidence-based method that can significantly improve your child's reading abilities is repeated reading. Reading proficiency is a vital skill that sets the foundation for academic success and lifelong learning. Repeated reading, a simple yet powerful technique, has been proven to enhance reading fluency, comprehension, and overall confidence. Let's delve into why repeated reading is such a beneficial practice for your child. Research consistently supports the benefits of…
Print v Digital
I recently read an article by Petra Stock, entitled "Streaming Stories: Will Children’s Digital Book Platforms Upend Print", an interesting discussion comparing ebooks and print media and the ways they are being used during and post COVID. Which is better according to the article? Well, there is a clear winner; however, like many things, the answer can depend on the situation. I'd like to break elements of the article down, along with my own thoughts and compare the two. Social…
Striking a Balance
We understand that, as parents, we aspire to provide our children with the best education and opportunities for growth. Within the Junior School at Toowoomba Grammar School, we believe in fostering a love for learning while enabling your son to reach his full potential. In this article, we would like to emphasise the significance of automaticity and basic skill practice in extending your child's learning journey, while emphasising the importance of respecting their individual pace. Automaticity…
Developing Sportsmanship from Prep
Overwhelming pride in wearing the Blue and Gold is a familiar emotion for Toowoomba Grammar School students, as is abundantly evident in all our boys, from Prep to Year 12. This emotion and passion for the School is the essence of our TGS culture and defines what it means to be a TGS student. The launch of the 2022 - 2026 Strategic Plan creates an exciting opportunity for our co-curricular program, which links perfectly into the "character and wellbeing" pillar. The development of good…
Why Study Drama?
As an educator with over 30 years’ experience in the Arts, I specialise in the analytical, creative and practical spheres that quantify and qualify success in drama. I have been a Drama teacher and Arts Project Officer in the Independent, Catholic, state, and private sectors in primary and secondary, single sex and co-educational environments. This longevity of knowledge, gained through firsthand experience, affirms that students who study drama through until at least Year 10 acquire…
Drive and Determination
Jeremy Peacock is ranked third in the world in the PTS4 Para category and his sights are set on selection for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. During Jeremy’s time at TGS he represented the School in numerous endeavours but was particularly known for his contributions to the Arts, particularly Music. On the sports field, Jeremy represented TGS in GPS Athletics, Cross Country, Cricket and Football. After returning from a gap year in the UK teaching music at Port Regis School, Dorset, Jeremy…
That Life-Changing Moment
His teacher, Mrs Rosemary Bishop saw his potential. She believed this young indigenous boy from Murgon had something special to offer the world and she fought to put him on the path to greatness. Mrs Bishop contacted the then Headmaster of Toowoomba Grammar School, Mr William Dent and asked if Waverley could be accepted into Toowoomba Grammar School on a scholarship. Mr Dent agreed and so changed the course of Waverley’s life. “I don’t like to think about where I would be now if that hadn’t…
Senioritis - The way we think affects the way we feel and behave
As high school students approach their final year, they may experience a phenomenon known as "Senioritis". As described by educators, Senioritis is a decrease in motivation and productivity, often accompanied by procrastination, complacency, and negative risk-taking behaviours. While not a medical term, Senioritis is a widely recognized term used to describe a common set of observed behaviours. As Jessica Lahey notes, "Senioritis is a real phenomenon. It can be defined as a decline in…
A Space for Learning
A core pillar of the Toowoomba Grammar School Strategic Plan is to provide an inspiring and broad curriculum for all boys, adopting technology and innovative pedagogy to transform learning outcomes. Over the last couple of years, the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted teachers to explore new frontiers of pedagogy, adapting to the difficult circumstances by launching interactive software, digitising trusty, tried and true resources, recording our lessons, flipping our classrooms, and cultivating an…
