Senior leadership commitment: School leaders must actively champion gender equality and VAWG prevention.

Whole-school ethos: Embed values of respect, equality, and safety across all aspects of school life.

Staff modelling: All staff should model respectful behaviour and challenge sexism and misogyny when they see it.

Equality Act 2010 requires schools to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between all pupils, including across gender lines.

White Ribbon activities challenge harmful gender norms and promote respectful relationships, aligning with schools’ Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED)

White Ribbon UK’s school programmes empower boys and young men to become allies in ending violence against women and girls, promoting positive influences and bystander intervention.

This supports RSHE curriculum goals around consent, respect, and healthy relationships, and helps counteract online misogyny and toxic influences.

The updated RSHE guidance (2025) places stronger emphasis on tackling misogyny, promoting respectful relationships, and safeguarding against online harms such as deepfakes and toxic influencers.

KCSIE 2025 reinforces the importance of teaching safeguarding through RSHE, including recognising abuse, promoting online safety, and addressing misinformation and disinformation.

White Ribbon initiatives help foster a school ethos of empathy, inclusion, and zero tolerance for harassment, supporting the 8 principles of a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing.

Activities such as pledges, assemblies, and student-led campaigns can enhance student voice, a key component of both RSHE and mental wellbeing strategies.

Updated RSHE content: The 2025 RSHE guidance includes stronger emphasis on:

• Misogyny and toxic online cultures (e.g. incel ideology)

• Consent, coercion, and respectful relationships

• Online safety including deepfakes, sextortion, and pornography

Early intervention: Begin teaching healthy relationships and gender equality from primary school.

Teacher training: Ensure staff are confident and well-trained to deliver sensitive content

Clear safeguarding procedures: KCSIE 2025 reinforces the need for robust systems to report and respond to sexual harassment and abuse.

Act as if abuse is happening: Ofsted recommends schools assume sexual harassment is occurring even if not reported, due to its prevalence.

Support for disclosures: Staff must be trained to handle disclosures sensitively and supportively.

Listening to pupils: Create safe spaces for students to share experiences and concerns.

Peer-led initiatives: Encourage student-led campaigns and mentoring to challenge harmful norms.

Feedback loops: Ensure pupils know how their concerns are acted upon.

Transparency: Share RSHE content and safeguarding policies with parents.

Collaborative approach: Work with parents, carers, and local agencies to reinforce messages at home and in the community.

Ongoing CPD: Provide regular training on VAWG, safeguarding, and trauma-informed practice.

Safe learning environments: Equip staff to manage difficult conversations and create inclusive classrooms.

Whole-school audits: Use tools like the NSPCC’s Talk Relationships Framework to assess provision and identify gaps.

Data-informed action: Track incidents, pupil feedback, and curriculum impact to inform improvements.

Recognise how race, disability, sexuality, and gender identity intersect with experiences of VAWG.

Ensure RSHE and safeguarding practices are inclusive and responsive to diverse needs.