Boys to be sent on courses to tackle misogyny in schools

Teachers will be trained to spot and combat misogyny in the classroom, while high-risk students could be sent on "behavioural change programmes" as part of a government drive to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) within the next decade.

The new strategy for schools in England, announced on Thursday after being delayed three times, aims to prevent young men from being "radicalised" by online influencers. Under the plans, pupils will be taught about consent, the dangers of sharing intimate images, how to identify positive role models, and how to debunk unhealthy stereotypes about women and relationships.

The £20 million package will also fund a new helpline for teenagers who are concerned about their own behaviour.

Stopping Harm Before It Starts

The government hopes that by addressing the roots of misogyny early, it can discourage young men from developing harmful attitudes.

"Every parent should be able to trust that their daughter is safe at school, online, and in her relationships," Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said. "This government is stepping in sooner—backing teachers, calling out misogyny, and intervening when warning signs appear to stop harm before it starts."

Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips described violence against women and girls as a "national emergency," adding that the government's intention was to deploy the "full power of the state" to change the culture.

"All of this is about trying to prevent those habits from escalating into the bad figures," she said.

Schools participating in a teacher-training pilot scheme will be selected next year, with ministers aiming for all secondary schools to deliver mandatory healthy relationship sessions by the end of this Parliament. The government will provide £16 million of the funding, working with philanthropists on an innovation fund for the remaining £4 million.

"Falls Seriously Short"

However, Dame Nicole Jacobs, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, warned that the commitments did not go far enough to see the number of people experiencing abuse fall.

While she acknowledged the strategy recognised the scale of the challenge, she said the investment "falls seriously short."

"Overburdened schools are not being equipped with the infrastructure they need to safeguard child victims of domestic abuse," she added.

According to domestic abuse charity Reducing the Risk, nearly 40% of teenagers in relationships are victims of violence. A YouGov survey suggests online influencers are partly responsible for fuelling this, with nearly half of boys aged 13 to 15 reporting a positive opinion of the self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate.

"Schools Are Just Part of the Solution"

While schools in England are already expected to detect and combat misogyny, education leaders warned that teachers cannot solve the crisis alone.

"The challenge isn't starting from scratch; it's making sure that this £20 million is spent wisely and in partnership with schools that are already leading the way," said Sukhjot Dhami, Principal of Beacon Hill Academy in Dudley.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the school leaders' union NAHT, said the government was right to recognise the need for training, but stressed that schools were "just part of the solution."

Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), welcomed the proposal but added that "effective steps to prevent at source the spread of online misogynistic content which is served up to young people by social media algorithms" were indispensable.

Under the new guidance, set to be released this summer for September, students will be taught that sharing and viewing indecent photographs of children is a crime. Teachers will also receive specific guidance on where to send students who display "sexually harmful conduct."

Broader Measures

The education drive is part of a wider strategy that includes:

• Specialist investigators in every police force dedicated to rape and sexual assault cases.

   

• The national rollout of Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs). These orders can bar individuals from contacting a victim, visiting their home, or posting harmful material online. Breaching an order will be a criminal offence.

   

• Improved NHS services for child and adult victims.

   

• A grant for councils to ensure safe housing for domestic abuse survivors.

   

Nicola Mclafferty, 42, a survivor of domestic violence, believes direct engagement is key. "Survivors of domestic violence, whether male or female, should attend assemblies and tell the children about it," she told the BBC. "If they are not going to be scared, they should be able to tell them a little of your personal experience... there should be more people talking and they should know."

A new advertising campaign featuring sports stars and celebrities calling for an end to violence against women and girls is set to launch on Saturday.