- The new innovative £1million toolkit is now available online for all primary schools in the capital and will help champion healthy and respectful relationships and attitudes. Online courses will train teachers to run classes and workshops in every school
- The move comes as research shows that young people are increasingly being exposed to misogynist influencers on social media – with one in three young males having a positive view of ‘self-proclaimed misogynist’ Andrew Tate and one in ten children having watched pornography by the time they are nine
- The Mayor has today written to every primary school in London to highlight the importance of pupils learning about equality and respect
- Today the Mayor warned there has never been a more important time to counter the pernicious influence of those who preach misogyny online, saying ‘young people must learn about respectful relationships before they start seeing content from individuals like Andrew Tate online.’
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, today launched a new landmark toolkit for every primary school in London to teach pupils about healthy and respectful relationships, as part of his work to tackle violence against women and girls.
Sadiq has written to every primary school in London explaining the importance of young boys and girls learning about equality and respect.
The new innovative £1million toolkit, funded by the Mayor and developed by educational experts Tender, uses workshops, drama and interactive sessions in the classroom to engage with young Londoners aged between 9-11 and champion healthy and respectful relationships and attitudes.
Tender is a pioneer in educating primary schools about healthy relationships and this is the first time they have put that knowledge and experience into a toolkit specifically for primary schools. Funding from the Mayor has allowed them to put their knowledge and experience into a toolkit to run classes and workshops empowering young people to confidently recognise, call out and help stamp out inequality and sexism among their own peer groups.
The move comes as research shows that young people are being increasingly exposed to misogynist influencers on social media – with one in three young males having a positive view of ‘self-proclaimed misogynist’ Andrew Tate. Young people are also being exposed to pornography online from as young as nine years old and this is having a negative role in shaping children’s understanding of girls and relationships.
The toolkit will help educate the next generation of Londoners on what harmful behaviour looks like, and why it is not ok. It will be delivered by primary school teachers and supported by specially trained workshop leaders.
It builds on work already delivered by the Mayor’s Violence Reduction Unit, which has pioneered a public health approach to tackling violence. It’s £2million funding includes investing in Tender to deliver work with 15,200 children and young people taking part in arts and drama-based healthy relationships sessions. This work has led to 90 per cent of pupils having a better understanding of healthy relationships and 80 per cent now able to spot red flags in a friendship or relationship.
The action is the latest part of the Mayor’s approach to tackling the underlying causes of violence against women and girls (VAWG). It will build on the success of his multi award-winning #HaveAWord campaign and allyship training in secondary schools which is working to educate and empower young Londoners to take a stand and help prevent violence against women and girls.
The launch of the new toolkit, following a successful trial, is based on the Mayor’s early intervention and prevention approach to tackling VAWG which places a stronger emphasis on partnership working, prevention and education across a wide range of services in London.
The Mayor is clear that it is never too early to start educating young Londoners about the need to treat one another fairly and kindly. And that education from a young age is key to strengthening the resilience young people have to toxic influences and attitudes towards women and girls in society and those proliferating on social media.
It is part of the Mayor’s record £233million investment to tackle violence against women and girls in all its forms – as well as its underlying causes. This funding is working to educate young people about harmful attitudes and behaviours, save lives, reduce waiting lists, keep doors open for vital specialist support services for victims and supporting the police and agencies to go after the worst perpetrators of violence.