The boys have also learned to "own their own behaviour", averting unnecessary student-teacher conflict.

The college's new Step Up program is reported to be turning boys into young men able to better engage with their school and community.

Twenty boys with "potential for improvement" were chosen to take part in the program based on "Year 7 term two report data".

READ ALSO:

They signed a contract at the start of term three 2018 which included a commitment to walk from Katoomba to the Jenolan Caves on the 44.3-kilometre Six Foot Track at the end of the program.

On Friday afternoon, the boys will return from the challenging three-day trek considered a "rite of passage" to them becoming "better men".

College teacher and arts coordinator Kirk Watts, and teacher's aide David Heywood, have guided the boys through the program, knowing they are "at a time when they are looking for a role model outside of the home".

They conducted sessions where physical activity was followed by talks on topics such as "what it means to be a good bloke, respectful relationships with women and the importance of engagement in school".

The boys got a "calm start" to each school day in a homeroom where breakfast and equipment was available to those who needed it.

Every Friday morning at 6am the boys had a workout followed by a cooked breakfast.

The program facilitators also organised English tutorials and meetings to "resolve classroom problems.

Mr Heywood spent time in each of the boy's classes, helping them with their work and behaviour.

"Sometimes boys can get stuck in a rut and it can get worse and worse," Mr Heywood said.

"I feel like we've been able to get them to look at school in a positive light."

Mr Kirk said some of the boys had been "a bit resistant at first" to the program.

"But those boys who were resistant are some of the boys who have embraced it the most," he said.

The teacher said the boys had acquired more friends and the "language and the ability to communicate a little bit better" with teachers.

"We find they are owning their own behaviour a lot more," Mr Watts said.

"They won't want to argue their way out of things".

The boys raised $1000 to cover the costs of the trek by selling sausage sandwiches, cakes and hot chocolate at the school.

"The people at school see them doing well and raising money and that helps these boys,"Mr Heywood said.

Trek sponsorship will go to Orana Support Service, particularly because of its domestic violence work.

The boys will be mentors to Step Up's next cohort.