Member News
School pupils will be taught how to avoid violent relationships as part of a new government strategy to tackle domestic violence.
More than £13m of funding is being provided to help support victims of sexual and domestic violence in a range of measures by the police, local authorities, NHS and government.
From 2011 lessons will be taught from the age of five to teach young people how to prevent violent relationships as a compulsory party of the curriculum.
Pupils will learn about gender equality and domestic violence as part of their personal, social and health education.
New rules for teachers will be introduced by officials to tackle "sexist, sexual and transphobic bullying" in the classroom.
Educational inspectors are to then assess schools on how well they are teaching pupils about preventing violence aimed at women.
And next year, two helplines are to be set up to address sexual violence and stalking and harassment.
Schools minister Vernon Coaker said lessons would be suitable for the age group being taught.
"The appropriateness of what you do with someone who is five-years-old is totally different in terms of content and how you will be taught to someone who is 15 or 16," he said.
"You can teach (younger children) about not bullying people and how names can hurt people."
But campaigners have said that the lessons being taught in school time could distract children in their academic subjects.
Margaret Morrissey, of the Parents Outloud campaign group, said schools should focus on teaching children to read and write.
She said: "This political correctness is turning our children into confused mini-adults from the age of five to nine. This has nothing at all to do with academic learning."
Plans also include the piloting of domestic violence protection orders - 'Go orders', which could see perpetrators excluded from their homes and give victims space to apply for longer-term protection.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd
Gerald Phillips
25th Nov 2009 at 5:11 pm