Home Office Minister Jess Phillips has issued a rallying cry to educators, stating that schools are being asked to do too much and that teachers should be more vocal about the immense pressures they face.
Speaking at the Girls' School Association (GSA) conference in London on Tuesday 18 November 2025, the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls argued that the education sector has not been sufficiently thanked for the ever-expanding role it is expected to play.
'Be More Birmingham Bin Worker'
In a direct address to headteachers, Ms Phillips declared that teachers should "whinge more" about their workload. She provocatively suggested they should "be more Birmingham bin worker," a reference to industrial action, before quickly adding with a joke: "But don't go on strike."
The Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley expressed her belief that educators should be allowed to focus on teaching and enriching young lives, rather than being burdened with concerns about their pupils' basic welfare, such as whether they have clean clothes or enough to eat.
She highlighted the extraordinary efforts of headteachers in her own constituency, who frequently go above and beyond for their students, a sentiment echoed by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL). The union has previously warned that the burden on schools is at an all-time high, with many now running food banks and supporting families with housing as other public services crumble.
The Hidden Epidemic in Teenage Relationships
Ms Phillips delivered a stark warning about a "huge and worrying" rate of domestic and sexual violence within teenage relationships. She admitted that the scale of the problem had not been foreseen and that not enough had been done to prepare for the risks facing girls in modern society.
This concern is backed by data from the National Crime Agency, which reported earlier this year that the risk to children from sexual abuse is increasing. In 2024, approximately half of all police-reported child sexual abuse crimes were committed by 10 to 17-year-olds, with around four in five sexual crimes against children targeting girls.
The minister stressed that the academic effort invested in girls is "wasted" if they fall prey to such violence. She positioned schools as a critical component in the national effort to tackle violence against women and girls over the next decade.
Rebuilding Trust and a New Curriculum
The conference also heard from a delegate who raised concerns that many girls lack confidence in the system to protect them when they report violence, while many boys feel anxious about being unfairly judged.
In response, Ms Phillips reflected on the #MeToo movement, acknowledging that while it changed the world, boys were not adequately invited into the conversation. She suggested this systemic failure allowed untrustworthy sources to fill the void, leading some boys to feel demonised.
This dialogue comes as the Department for Education (DfE) introduces new guidance for Relationships, Sex, and Health Education (RSHE). The updated curriculum will require students to be taught to recognise misogyny, understand consent, and learn about the dangers posed by sub-cultures like "so-called 'involuntary celibates'".
Furthermore, the government is acting on a key recommendation from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), which labelled the issue an "epidemic" in its 2022 report. A new mandatory duty to report child sexual abuse will be introduced for all those working with children, including teachers.
