There's "Much More To Do" To Combat Misogyny In Schools, Says Minister
2 min read
The Government has "much more to do" to tackle misogyny in schools, the minister for early education has said.
In an interview with The House magazine, Stephen Morgan said that the "escalatory nature" of misogyny means that "education plays a crucial role" in challenging the issue at an early stage.
The Labour MP for Portsmouth South was speaking to the magazine as the Government works to fulfil its pledge to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.
The education sector has voiced alarm over the growing prevalence of misogyny and incel culture in schools and the impact of influencers such as Andrew Tate.
A Women and Equalities Committee report published last year said that "sexual harassment and sexual violence continues to be a scourge in our schools, with many girls and women feeling powerless".
School staff have also admitted to being targeted by misogynistic behaviour.
A survey by Unison earlier this year found that one in seven school support staff said they had witnessed sexual harassment in school in the last five years. While the harassment was often made by male pupils towards female pupils, female staff members were sometimes also targeted.
Stephen Morgan, Minister for Early Education told The House: "[The] online safety piece is important. There's probably more we can do around misogyny in schools, and I'm keen to talk to school leaders about what that might look like."
He added: “Tackling misogyny in all its forms requires a concerted, multi-agency approach, and I believe we have much more to do to address this pervasive issue.
“The escalatory nature of misogyny means that education plays a crucial role in challenging these attitudes early on. Through relationships, sex, and health education (RSHE), we are equipping young people with the knowledge and skills to recognise and reject harmful content, build empathy, and promote respect for all."
The contentious draft relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education guidance was published under the previous Tory government and set out that schools should not teach pupils sex education until Year 5.
Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson will look at responses to a public consultation and engage with stakeholders before setting out whether the Government will take steps to change the guidance.
The Online Safety Act, which passed into law in 2023, aims to protect children and adults online.
Morgan said work to safeguard children is "absolutely not" over, however.
"Making sure that children use devices safely in the classroom...this is something that I would always be reviewing to make sure that children feel safe and use of devices is safely done as well."
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