Misogyny Training in Schools:
Why the UK Government’s Announcement Matters and What Schools Must Do Next
Misogyny Training in Schools: Why the UK Government’s Announcement Matters and What Schools Must Do Next
Communities inc
The UK government’s recent announcement, reported by the BBC, that misogyny education will be introduced in schools, marks a clear turning point in how gender-based harm is being addressed across education settings. This is not a symbolic move. It is a direct response to rising concerns about sexism, harassment, online radicalisation, and the normalisation of harmful attitudes towards women and girls among young people.
For schools, colleges and education leaders, the message is unambiguous: doing nothing is no longer an option.
What this really means is that safeguarding, behaviour policies, staff training and whole-school culture are now under renewed scrutiny. And with that comes a practical question many leaders are already asking: What does effective misogyny prevention training actually look like in practice?
Why Misogyny Is Now a Safeguarding Issue,
Not Just a Behaviour Issue
Misogyny is often misunderstood as isolated incidents, poor language, or low-level disruption. In reality, it sits on a continuum of harm.
Unchecked misogynistic attitudes contribute to:
⦿ Sexual harassment and peer-on-peer abuse
⦿ Online hate and radicalisation
⦿ Normalisation of coercive behaviour
⦿ Increased risk of violence against women and girls
⦿ Unsafe school environments for staff and students
Safeguarding guidance has been moving in this direction for some time. The government’s announcement simply makes explicit what many schools already know: misogyny is a safeguarding risk. And safeguarding risks requires training, not just policy updates.
Nearly 40% of teenagers in relationships are victims of abuse, a domestic abuse charity, Reducing the Risk, has said.
Online influencers are partly blamed for feeding this, with nearly one in five boys aged 13 to 15 said to hold a positive view of the self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate, according to a YouGov poll. Schools in England are already required to identify and tackle misogyny, and some teachers said schools were already doing the kind of work in the new measures.
What Schools and Colleges Are Now Expected to Do
While the government announcement focuses on education, the implications are broader. Schools are expected to demonstrate that they are:
⦿ Proactively educating students about misogyny and gender-based harm
⦿ Equipping staff to identify, challenge and respond safely
⦿ Creating cultures where harmful behaviour is interrupted, not ignored
⦿ Supporting students without escalating situations or putting staff at risk
⦿ Ofsted inspections, safeguarding audits, and serious incident reviews increasingly look at how schools respond, not just whether they have policies in place.
Training that is vague, reactive or one-off will not stand up to scrutiny.
Bystander Intervention and Early Prevention
Most harmful behaviour in schools is witnessed before it is reported.
Students hear comments in corridors. Staff notice patterns before incidents escalate. Peers see behaviour online long before adults do. That’s where prevention either works or fails. Effective misogyny training does not rely on punishment after harm occurs. It focuses on:
⦿ Early intervention
⦿ Bystander awareness
⦿ Safe, proportionate challenge
⦿ Clear boundaries and shared responsibility
This approach protects victims, supports staff and reduces escalation.
Training is no longer about ticking a box. It is about demonstrating due diligence and preventative leadership.
The schools that act early are the ones that shape the narrative, rather than responding to a crisis later.
A Practical Next Step for Schools and Colleges
The government announcement signals where expectations are heading. The BBC coverage reflects growing public concern. Parents, inspectors and communities are watching closely.
The question for schools, colleges, and workplaces is simple:
Are we prepared to show how we prevent misogyny, not just how we react to it?
Stand By Her offers a clear, structured and practical way to do exactly that.
“Stand By Her Training is the best Misogyny and Sexism Training”
Stand By Her is designed specifically to address misogyny as a preventable harm, not just a disciplinary issue.
Delivered by Communities Inc, the programme supports schools, colleges and organisations to:
⦿ Understand how misogyny shows up in everyday behaviour
⦿ Recognise early warning signs before incidents escalate
⦿ Equip staff and students with practical bystander tools
⦿ Respond confidently without confrontation or risk
⦿ Build a culture where harmful behaviour is challenged consistently
The training aligns naturally with safeguarding responsibilities, equality duties and behaviour frameworks, without adding unnecessary burden to already stretched staff.
