The BBC reported that girls had spoken about the extreme misogyny they experience at school and online, including threats of violence and rape, sometimes dismissed or disguised as “banter”. One girl described the impact of a so-called “rape list” made by boys at her school and told the BBC she felt “worthless” and “frightened”. The BBC quoted her as saying: “It is frightening because you don’t know people’s real intentions.”
The BBC News report also quoted Catherine Marchant, CEO of Impact Family Services in South Tyneside, who warned that if violent misogynistic attitudes are normalised in schools and online, young people may fail to recognise abuse in real life. She told the BBC: “If nobody calls this out and tells them it’s not right, they think this is how they should behave.”
For parents, this report on the experience of school girls from Tyneside is deeply concerning. My hope is that the updated legal guidance, which comes into force from 1 September 2026, will bring about a significant change in the behaviour of boys. The guidance makes clear that from the beginning of this academic year, schools and colleges must approach misogyny through safeguarding, child-on-child abuse, equality, behaviour, online safety and preventative education.
Why September 2026 matters
Guidance comes into force on 1 September 2026 and is statutory guidance for schools and colleges in England. It states that schools and colleges in England “must have regard to it” when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. For the purposes of the guidance, “children” means everyone under the age of 18.
The latest guidance expressly recognises the link between dismissing harmful sexual behaviour as “banter” and the creation of a culture of unacceptable behaviour, misogyny and unsafe environments for children. It also highlights the “escalatory nature of misogyny” and the benefits of early identification in minimising the risk of harmful sexual behaviour, sexual harassment and sexual violence.
The message for schools is clear: misogyny should not be treated as a minor behavioural issue or an inevitable feature of teenage life. It can be a safeguarding issue, a bullying issue, an equality issue and, in some cases, a criminal issue.
What do “must” and “should” mean?
The guidance uses the words “must” and “should” deliberately.
“Must” means the person or organisation in question is legally required to do something. Where the guidance says a school “must” act, that requirement is not optional.
“Should” means the advice should be followed unless there is good reason not to. A school that chooses not to follow a “should” expectation should be able to explain why and demonstrate that its alternative approach properly safeguards children.
For parents, the terminology is important. A school should not dismiss a concern simply because a particular point in the guidance is framed as “should” rather than “must”. The practical question is whether the school has taken appropriate, timely and effective steps to safeguard your child.
What does “schools” include?
The Government guidance defines “school” broadly. Unless otherwise specified, “school” means all schools, whether maintained, non-maintained or independent, including academies, free schools, alternative provision academies, maintained nursery schools and pupil referral units.
The guidance also applies to colleges, including further education colleges, sixth-form colleges, 16 to 19 academies, special post-16 institutions and independent training providers, in relation to their responsibilities towards children receiving education or training there.
In short, parents should expect safeguarding standards to apply across the education sector, not only in traditional maintained schools.
Misogyny is a safeguarding concern, not just “bad language”
The guidance expressly warns that downplaying abusive behaviour between children, including dismissing sexual harassment as “just banter”, “just having a laugh”, “part of growing up” or “boys being boys”, can lead to a culture of unacceptable behaviour, misogyny, an unsafe environment and, in the worst cases, a culture that normalises abuse and stops children from reporting it.
This directly reflects the concerns raised in the BBC report. When girls are threatened, humiliated, ranked, sexually harassed or made to feel unsafe, the issue is not simply whether school rules have been broken. The issue is whether the school is properly protecting them.
All school staff should be aware that child-on-child abuse can happen inside and outside school or college and online. Therefore, staff should be clear about their school or college’s policy and procedures and the role they have in preventing and responding to all forms of abuse.
What schools should be doing from September 2026
1. Creating a zero-tolerance culture
Schools should make clear that sexual harassment and sexual violence are never acceptable and will not be tolerated. Schools and colleges should be aware of the importance of making clear that sexual harassment and sexual violence should never be passed off as “banter”, “just having a laugh”, “a part of growing up” or “boys being boys”.
This does not mean that every incident will result in the same sanction. It means that every concern should be taken seriously, considered properly, recorded where appropriate and addressed through safeguarding, pastoral and behaviour systems.
2. Recognising that girls are more likely to be victims
Any report of harmful sexual behaviour, sexual harassment or sexual violence should be taken seriously, but staff should be aware that girls are more likely to be victims of sexual harassment and sexual violence, and that it is more likely to be perpetrated by boys.
That does not mean boys should be stereotyped or presumed guilty. It does mean schools should be alert to patterns of behaviour, listen carefully to girls and avoid minimising concerns because they are uncomfortable or difficult to manage.
3. Treating child-on-child abuse as preventable
Child-on-child abuse is preventable and timely, evidence-based support can be key to preventing children from going on to commit abuse or violence.
This is particularly important in relation to misogyny. Early intervention when there is evidence of inappropriate behaviour, including misogyny, can help prevent escalation to more serious abuse such as sexual harassment and sexual violence.
4. Updating child protection policies
Governing bodies and proprietors should ensure that the child protection policy includes procedures to minimise the risk of child-on-child abuse, accessible systems for children to report abuse, processes for recording, investigating and dealing with allegations, and clear processes for supporting victims, perpetrators and other affected children.
The policy should also recognise that even where there are no reported cases of child-on-child abuse, abuse may still be happening and simply not being reported.
5. Making reporting systems accessible and trusted
Schools should have systems that are well promoted, easily understood and easily accessible, so that children can confidently report abuse knowing their concerns will be treated seriously.
Parents should expect schools to explain how pupils can report misogyny, bullying, sexual harassment or online abuse, including whether they can speak to a trusted adult, use an anonymous system or contact the designated safeguarding lead.
6. Recording, investigating and acting
Child protection policies should explain how allegations of child-on-child abuse will be recorded, investigated and dealt with. A school cannot properly identify patterns of misogyny if incidents are dismissed informally, dealt with inconsistently or not recorded at all. Good records help schools see whether particular girls, groups, locations, times of day or online spaces present increased risk.
7. Supporting victims and keeping them safe
All staff should be able to reassure victims that they are being taken seriously and that they will be supported and kept safe. The guidance also says victims should never be given the impression that they are creating a problem by reporting abuse, nor made to feel ashamed for making a report.
The obligation on school staff will hopefully give comfort and confidence to parents. This is one of the most important expectations. A girl who reports misogyny should not be made to feel difficult, over-sensitive or responsible for the school’s response. She should be protected, supported and kept informed in an age-appropriate way.
8. Taking online misogyny seriously
The guidance identifies misogyny as one example of harmful online content. It recognises online safety risks including content, contact, conduct and commerce. It also refers to online harms such as image sharing, deepfakes, pornography and misogynistic influencers as topics that should be addressed through preventative education.
Schools should not treat online misogyny as irrelevant simply because it happens beyond the school gates. If online abuse affects a child’s safety, welfare or education in school, parents should expect the school to consider what safeguarding and behaviour action is required.
9. Using education to prevent harm
Schools and colleges play a crucial role in preventative education. It is most effective as part of a whole-school or college approach. This approach should create a culture of zero tolerance for sexism, racism, misogyny and misandry, homophobia, biphobia, sexual violence and harassment, derogatory behaviour and other forms of physical violence and conflict.
The guidance also says that the programme should be underpinned by behaviour policies, pastoral support and planned, evidence-based Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) delivered in timetabled lessons and reinforced across the curriculum.
10. Considering equality duties
The Public Sector Equality Duty requires state-funded schools and colleges to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations. The guidance specifically refers to the need to eliminate unlawful behaviours such as sexual violence, sexual harassment, misogyny and misandry, racism and faith-based prejudice.
Bullying and safeguarding: where misogyny overlaps
Misogyny in schools often overlaps with bullying. Bullying in schools can include physical, verbal, psychological and online abuse. Parents commonly need advice where schools fail to investigate properly, minimise peer-on-peer sexual harassment, fail to prevent repeat incidents or communicate poorly with parents.
Misogyny can also be a safeguarding concern. Safeguarding issues may include bullying and cyberbullying, sexual assault, sexual harassment, inappropriate sexual behaviour, inadequate safeguarding procedures, poor investigations and lack of action by a school.
Where misogyny includes threats, sexualised abuse, harassment, image-based abuse, coercion, humiliation or intimidation, parents should expect schools to consider both their bullying and safeguarding responsibilities and duties, to protect pupils and students.
What parents should expect from schools
Parents of girls should expect schools to be proactive, not reactive. In practical terms, that means schools should be able to answer the following questions:
- What is your policy on misogyny, sexism, sexual harassment and child-on-child abuse?
- How do pupils report concerns safely and confidently?
- How are incidents recorded and monitored?
- How do you identify patterns, including online patterns?
- How do you support girls who report misogyny or harassment?
- How do you manage risk where the alleged perpetrator is in the same school?
- How are staff trained to challenge “banter” and “boys being boys” attitudes?
- How is misogyny addressed through RSHE, pastoral support and the wider curriculum?
- How do governors or trustees monitor whether the school’s approach is working?
- What will you do now to keep my daughter safe?
If a school cannot answer these questions clearly, parents may have legitimate concerns about whether the school is meeting their legal obligations.
Practical steps for parents
If your daughter reports misogynistic abuse, bullying, harassment or threats at school, you may wish to:
- keep a written chronology of what happened;
- preserve screenshots, messages or other evidence;
- report the matter in writing to the school’s designated safeguarding lead;
- ask whether the school is treating the matter as bullying, child-on-child abuse, sexual harassment, safeguarding, or a combination;
- request copies of the school’s safeguarding, behaviour, anti-bullying, online safety and complaints policies;
- ask what immediate steps will be taken to keep your daughter safe;
- ask how the concern will be recorded, investigated and reviewed;
- ask what support will be offered to your daughter;
- escalate through the school’s complaints process if the response is inadequate;
- seek legal advice where the school minimises the issue, fails to act or your daughter remains at risk.
Early advice can be particularly important where misogyny overlaps with sexual harassment, online abuse, safeguarding failures, discrimination or repeated bullying.
The key message
The experience of girls from Tyneside, reported by the BBC, is shocking. The experience of these girls highlights misogyny is an issue that schools must address with rigour in the new term. From 1 September 2026, the updated guidance gives schools a clear framework: misogyny should be challenged early, reports should be taken seriously, girls should be supported and kept safe, and schools should build a culture where sexual harassment, sexist abuse and misogynistic behaviour are never dismissed as “banter”.
Parents should take comfort from the fact that the guidance is explicit. They should also feel empowered to hold schools to account. A school’s duty is not only to respond after harm has occurred, but to create an environment in which girls are safe, respected and able to learn.
It will be interesting to learn how over the 2026/27 academic year schools and colleges respond to this guidance and, most importantly, whether pupils and students report improvements in the behaviour of boys. As Sue Davison, a specialist teacher with 30 years’ experience, said to the BBC, “We’re talking to the girls about nine out of 10 boys would never take this further than language, which is bad enough, but it’s that one possibly out of 10 that might”.
By implementing the updated legal guidance and by the reporting of these girls from the north east, let’s hope schools and colleges succeed in stamping out misogyny in schools.
FAQs: Misogyny in Schools
1. What is misogyny in schools?
Misogyny in schools means conduct, language or attitudes showing contempt for, prejudice against or hostility towards girls or women. It may include sexist abuse, sexualised comments, threats, online harassment, humiliation, ranking girls, or behaviour that makes girls feel unsafe.
2. Does Government guidance refer to misogyny?
Yes, it does. Guidance expressly refers to misogyny in the context of child-on-child abuse, sexual harassment, online safety, equality duties and preventative education.
3. When does the new guidance come into force?
It comes into force on 1 September 2026.
4. What does “must” mean in the new guidance?
“Must” means the person or organisation is legally required to do something.
5. What does “should” mean in the new guidance?
“Should” means the advice should be followed unless there is good reason not to.
6. Which schools does the guidance apply to?
The guidance defines schools broadly, including maintained, non-maintained and independent schools, academies, free schools, alternative provision academies, maintained nursery schools and pupil referral units.
7. Is misogyny a safeguarding issue?
Misogyny is very likely to be a safeguarding issue. Where misogyny involves sexual harassment, threats, coercion, humiliation, online abuse, harmful sexual behaviour or child-on-child abuse, schools should consider safeguarding action.
8. Is misogyny the same as bullying?
Not always, but it may overlap. Misogynistic behaviour may amount to bullying where it is repeated, intentional and involves an imbalance of power. It may also be discriminatory, sexual harassment or safeguarding-related.
9. Can schools dismiss sexist comments as “banter”?
Schools should not dismiss abusive or sexualised behaviour as “banter”, “boys being boys” or “part of growing up”. To do so is likely to create a culture of unacceptable behaviour, misogyny and unsafe environments.
10. What should a school do if a girl reports misogyny?
The school should take the report seriously, record it appropriately, consider safeguarding risks, support the pupil, investigate where required and take steps to keep her safe.
11. What if the incident happened online?
Child-on-child abuse and harmful sexual behaviour can happen online and outside school premises. If online misogyny affects a child’s safety or education, schools should consider what action is needed.
12. Should schools teach pupils about misogyny?
The legal guidance says preventative education should help create a zero-tolerance culture for sexism, misogyny, sexual violence and harassment, with relevant content delivered through RSHE and reinforced across school life.
13. Are girls more likely to be victims of sexual harassment in schools?
Yes. Government guidance states that girls are more likely to be victims of sexual harassment and sexual violence, and boys are more likely to be perpetrators, although all reports should be taken seriously.
14. What policies should parents ask to see?
Parents should ask for the safeguarding policy, child protection policy, behaviour policy, anti-bullying policy, online safety policy, child-on-child abuse policy and complaints procedure.
15. When should parents seek legal advice?
Parents should consider legal advice where the school minimises misogyny, fails to investigate, does not protect the child, treats sexual harassment as low-level behaviour, fails to follow safeguarding procedures, or where bullying or harassment continues. At Doyle Clayton we advise parents on both bullying in schools and safeguarding in schools. We offer a fixed fee online consultation meeting, to give parents peace of mind at a fixed cost. You can book a meeting for a day and time convenient to you, through our booking suite.
