Government-backed lesson materials for children as young as five years old to promote online safety and tackle online misogyny have been published by the Oak National Academy.
Eighty new lesson plans and resources from Oak will support pupils to navigate harmful content on social media and streaming services, including explicit sexual material, grooming and radicalisation.
It comes as the DfE prepares to publish its revised relationships, sex and health education guidance. The Labour administration has been reviewing the draft guidance set out by the previous government, which was never implemented.
According to the BBC, pupils will be taught “how to identify and learn from positive male role models” in the wake of rising misogyny and incel culture.
1 in 3 teachers report misogynistic behaviour
Teacher Tapp polling of 6,000 secondary school staff found one in three reported misogynistic behaviour by pupils in the previous week, while teachers with more than five years experience have noticed a clear uptick in sexist conduct during their careers.
Data from YouGov shows four in five parents are worried about online safety and screentime, topping worries of mental health, bullying and taking drugs and alcohol.
Primary school lessons on online safety
Children as young as five will be taught lessons including Online lives: What should I do if I feel unsafe online? And Media Influence: How do I decide what to do online?
Lessons will focus on sharing photos safely, how to report unsuitable content and blocking interactions from unfamiliar accounts.
They also look at how algorithms influence what we experience online and how this can impact how we see the world.
Secondary school lessons on incels
Children between years 7 and 11 will be taught how to spot signs of incel ideology and radicalisation.
Lessons describe the beliefs of incels – involuntary celibates – such as men being entitled to sexual relationships and blaming women and girls if they are unwilling to engage.
They also discuss the emojis, codes and tactics used by these groups online.
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said she wants “children to be equipped to defy the malign forces that exist online,” and “schools and parents alike have a vital role to play”.
While John Roberts from Oak National Academy said resources should help tackle “delicate topics to cover”.
Your thoughts