Select Committee · Women and Equalities Committee

Attitudes towards women and girls in educational settings

Status: Closed Opened: 9 Jun 2022 Closed: 28 May 2024 8 recommendations 6 conclusions 1 report

An inquiry to scrutinise how attitudes in educational settings, from early years to university, affect women and girls throughout their lives, drawing on an existing body of evidence including academic papers, reports and submissions to other Select Committee inquiries, including our predecessor Committee. This inquiry is part of the committee’s work into Preventing Violence Against …

Reports

1 report

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards women and girls in educati…	HC 331	5 Jul 2023	14	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items

6 Recommendation Fifth Report - Attitudes towards women … Acknowledged

Extend compulsory Relationships, Sex and Health Education to post-16 educational settings.

A lack of compulsory RSHE for young people until they are 18 leaves young people making their first steps in the adult world under-supported and less equipped to navigate potentially harmful and dangerous situations and keep themselves safe and healthy in relationships. We recommend that compulsory RSHE is extended to …

Government response. The government states it is currently considering the recommendation to extend compulsory RSHE to young people in post-16 educational settings.

Government Equalities Office

8 Recommendation Fifth Report - Attitudes towards women … Acknowledged

Develop specific strategy to engage boys on sexual harassment in schools, laying before Parliament.

Engagement with boys and young men is crucial for tackling sexual harassment and sexual violence in educational settings. As part of the review of relationships, sex and health education (RSHE), the Department for Education and the Government Equalities Office should work together to develop a specific strategy for engaging with …

Government response. The government states a review of RSHE statutory guidance is underway, which will include expert input and public consultation. Following its publication, the Department will update teacher training modules and assess further support needed, but does not commit to a …

Government Equalities Office

12 Conclusion Fifth Report - Attitudes towards women … Acknowledged

Develop nationwide sexual harassment and violence awareness campaign targeting male university students.

The Department for Education should develop a nationwide sexual harassment and sexual violence awareness campaign that particularly targets male university students.

Government response. The government refers to the Home Office's 2023 'ENOUGH' campaign and states the Department for Education is building on this, working with sector bodies to share good practice rather than committing to a new, separate nationwide campaign targeting male university …

Government Equalities Office

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions

Date	Witnesses
12 Oct 2022	Andrea Jenkyns MP · Department for Education, Andrew Cook · Ofsted, Emma Davies · Department for Education, Kate Dixon · Department for Education, Kelly Tolhurst MP · Department for Education, Susan Lapworth · Office for Students, Yvette Stanley · Ofsted	View ↗
21 Sep 2022	Session	View ↗
7 Sep 2022	Ammaarah Faisal · Our Streets Now, Dr Melanie McCarry · University of Strathclyde, Dr Rachel Fenton · University of Exeter Law School, John Edmonds, Professor Cara Aitchison, Richie Benson · Beyond Equality	View ↗
20 Jul 2022	Ammaarah Faisal · Our Streets Now, Dr Anni Donaldson · University of Strathclyde, Dr Rachel Fenton · University of Exeter Law School, John Edmonds, Professor Steve West · Universities UK, Richie Benson · Beyond Equality	View ↗
28 Jun 2022	Dr Yuwei XU · University of Nottingham, UK, Jenny Barksfield · PSHE Association, Keziah Featherstone · Q3 Academy Tipton, Professor Nicky Stanley · University of Central Lancashire, Soma Sara · Everyone's Invited, Susie McDonald · Tender Arts & Education	View ↗