Calls for relationship violence prevention lessons in schools "don't go far enough"
Naomi Butters is the CEO of ICENA
A non-profit organisation working to raise awareness to sexual violence in schools and universities says recent calls for relationship violence prevention lessons in secondary schools and colleges "don't go far enough".
It's as the government-funded Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) is calling for more action to be taken to help protect pupils from violence.
ICENA, who work across the East of England, have been delivering healthy relationship and consent classes at schools and universities since 2019.
Naomi Butters CEO tells Greatest Hits Radio "we know that change takes more than just a few lessons".
"Appointing a violence against women and girls lead and embedding specialist lead education is vital but we need to start much earlier.
"Children in primary school are already exposed to harmful content through smartphones and without early age appropriate conversations about consent, boundaries, and respect, we're just playing catch up.
A poll of 4,717 secondary school teachers in England, carried out by Teacher Tapp in December, suggests one in eight (13%) reported that a pupil in their school committed sexual assault against another child in the past term.
The charity Youth Endowment Fun, funded by the Home Office, has called for secondary schools, colleges and alternative provision settings to appoint a staff member as a violence against women and girls (VAWG) lead.
In a report, they added the Government should pilot and scale up a grant to improve Relationships, Sex, and Health Education lessons, bring in specialist external providers, and train teachers.
The YEF recommends at least five "relationship violence prevention lessons" for Year 9 pupils (aged between 13 and 14) as well as college students.
ICENA's Naomi Butters backs the calls but say they don't go far enough:
"Prevention needs to be holistic.
"This means much better, more comprehensive RSHE lessons at an early age, proper funding for expert providers, ongoing training for staff, and a whole school approach that challenges sexism and harmful gender norms.
The recommendations come as television drama Adolescence, which examines so-called incel (involuntary celibate) culture, has prompted a national conversation about misogyny in schools.
45% of teachers say they lack confidence in teaching pupils how to intervene if they witness a sexual assault.
27% said they did not feel confident teaching students how to leave unhealthy relationships, according to a poll by Teacher Tapp.
Jon Yates, chief executive of the YEF, said: "Over the past decade, schools have led the charge in breaking down the stigma around mental health and providing crucial support for young people.
"With the right resources, training and leadership, they can have a similar transformative impact in tackling violence against women and girls."
He added: "Netflix's Adolescence has shone a much-needed spotlight on the toxic influences boys are growing up with. It's time to act.
"Research shows that lessons on healthy relationships can make a real difference.
"The Labour government has the opportunity to make a bold statement that violence against women and girls will not be tolerated."
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said their members are meeting to discuss "increasing misogyny and violence against women and girls" with the aim of calling for resources that will support leaders to challenge misogyny.
"While schools do their best to educate all pupils about safe healthy relationships, there is a sense that globally incidents of misogyny appear to be on the rise, with significant world leaders and influencers being able to portray overtly misogynistic views, opinions and actions with no rebuttal.
"Our members feel the need for more help and guidance on tackling this" says Mr Whiteman.
Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "The recommendations made in this report would have to be implemented very carefully to avoid creating additional expectations and workload for teachers and leaders already juggling many competing demands.
"While we agree that the education system plays a key role in protecting children from violence, this cannot be down to schools alone."
The Government have said through reviewing the relationships, sex and health curriculum, they'll ensure "children are learning skills they need to build positive, healthy relationships."
"We have robust statutory safeguarding guidance in place that schools must follow to keep children safe from abuse and harassment."