Schoolchildren taught to recognise sexism to prevent violence against women

Primary school children are being taught to recognise sexism in a bid to prevent violence against women and girls (VAWG).

Streatham Wells Primary School in Palace Road, Tulse Hill, tackles misogyny and VAWG through its curriculum and community work.

Headteacher Sarah Wordlaw leads the Lambeth forum for VAWG, connecting professionals who support women and children who are at risk.

Ms Wordlaw has curated a curriculum for the school which teaches the children about identity, expression, naming misogyny, online behaviours and developing positive masculinity.

She said: “In the UK, a woman is killed by a man every three days and in recent years we have seen a frightening rise in hatred of women and misogynistic views.

“As a school, we know this is not simply a women’s problem, it’s an everyone problem. Education is a key to addressing this and it has to begin early.”

Lessons, aimed at Year 5 and 6 pupils, focus on allyship and how people can support someone who is being discriminated against.

The curriculum also teaches children about social media and the messages it sends about masculinity and femininity, whilst working alongside the White Ribbon charity which teaches men and boys to fight against VAWG.

Ms Wordlaw said: “Misogyny needs to be named and explicitly taught so that children understand how to treat each other, but also how to spot it and challenge it.

“Children need to be taught what it means and how it can affect others. It is important that it is taught as an issue which affects all of us, not just girls.”

In July 2024, police chiefs warned that two million women are estimated to be victims of violence each year in an epidemic so serious it amounts to a “national emergency”.

Crimes including stalking, harassment, sexual assault and domestic violence affect one in 12 women in England and Wales, with the number of recorded offences growing by 37 per cent in the past five years.

Pictured top: A poster made by Streatham Wells Primary School supporting the work of the White Ribbon charity (Picture: Sarah Wordlaw)