As the VAWG epidemic deepens, our National Police Chiefs’ Council have said, ‘we need greater and more consistent Sex & Relationships Education for young people, which includes healthy relationships & gender equality’ and the current government have published clear updated RSHE Guidance as well as the VAWG Strategy.

The updated RSHE Guidance, 2025, says: ‘It is important to acknowledge that most sexual violence is committed against women and girls, and it often has a gendered component – for example, manifesting an inequality of power between men and women. However, anyone can be affected by sexual violence and teachers should avoid language which stigmatises boys or suggests that boys or men are always perpetrators or that girls or women are always victims… staff should be conscious of everyday sexism, misogyny, homophobia and stereotypes, and should take action to build a culture where prejudice is identified and tackled… Pupils should understand the importance of challenging harmful beliefs and attitudes and should understand the links between sexism and misogyny and violence against women and girls… Pupils should have opportunities to develop positive conceptions of masculinity and femininity, including how to identify and learn from positive male role models.’