TEENAGERS are learning how to iron, sew and make the bed as part of a school curriculum designed to turn boys into men.

St Augustine's College in Brookvale on Sydney's northern beaches has introduced grooming and etiquette classes as part of efforts to engage its Year 9 students during the tough middle years of high school.

Boys are taught to master life's daily duties like table setting, phone etiquette, basic food preparation and how to give a good handshake. They even learn the answer to the age-old question of who pays for dinner on the first date. (Answer: Modern couples split the bill.)

Middle School dean Peter Nolan created the Unitas program of 10 subjects to give students something exciting and different.

"We often find that boys lose their way at school - the novelty of Year 7 has worn off and the focus of the senior years isn't quite in their reach yet," he said. "Education is about opening doors. It's not just about getting a great result at the end of Year 12. It's about developing character and building individuals."

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In addition to grooming and etiquette, students learn about healthy relationships and how to perform CPR and also assist with reading and sport activities with infants at Brookvale Public School and pre-schoolers at Brookvale Children's Centre.

A unit in positive psychology helps students identify their "signature strengths" and a "taste of TAFE" introduces boys to motor mechanics, basic cooking and horticulture.

Parent Rina Cipri said teaching life skills was a "fantastic idea". She said girls could also benefit from basic life skills.

"You need to learn how to do this stuff because you don't know what will happen," she said.

Ms Cipri said she had noticed small changes in her son Vincent's habits - but she continues to iron his shirts, despite him being four weeks into the course.

"In my house it's always a mad rush every morning. We have breakfast and get dressed and we're rushing out the door," she said.

"I always ask if he's wearing deodorant - maybe it's my son, maybe it's all boys - but it's good to have assistance."

Vincent, 14, said at first he was not thrilled with the initiative but had found the classes to be fun.