All secondary schools in England will be required to teach students about healthy relationships as part of a government strategy to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) within a decade. The initiative aims to tackle misogyny and 'stop abuse before it starts' by intervening early on worrying behaviour in young people.
Teachers will receive specialist training to discuss issues such as consent and healthy relationships. Pupils who exhibit harmful behaviour towards relatives or in relationships will be enrolled in behaviour change programmes. Additionally, a new helpline will be established for teenagers concerned about their own behaviour in relationships.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated: 'Every parent should be able to trust that their daughter is safe at school, online and in her relationships. But too often toxic ideas are taking hold early and going unchallenged.' He added that the government is 'stepping in sooner – backing teachers, calling out misogyny, and intervening when warning signs appear' to protect girls and drive forward education for boys and young men.
The education measures are backed by a £20 million package, with £16 million from the government and additional funds from philanthropists via an innovation fund. Other measures in the cross-government strategy include introducing specialist rape and sexual offences investigators to every police force, better NHS support for survivors, and a £19 million funding boost for councils to provide safe housing for domestic abuse survivors.
However, some officials have raised concerns. Victims' Commissioner Claire Waxman warned that without proper investment and leadership, the strategy risks being 'less than the sum of its parts'. Domestic abuse commissioner Dame Nicole Jacobs said the commitments 'do not go far enough' and that overburdened schools lack the infrastructure to safeguard child victims of domestic abuse.
