In response to growing concerns about the influence of online misogyny on young people, schools across the country are set to introduce anti-misogyny lessons as part of the government's revised Relationships, Health, and Sex Education (RHSE) curriculum. The initiative follows the release of Netflix’s hit mini-series Adolescence, which portrays the harrowing consequences of online radicalisation and gender-based violence. The new curriculum guidance is expected to be implemented before the end of the academic year.

The move gained significant traction after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer publicly endorsed Adolescence, revealing during Prime Minister’s Questions that he had been watching the series with his teenage children. Starmer also backed calls from the show’s creators, Jack Thorne and actor Stephen Graham, for the series to be shown in schools and even in Parliament.

The four-episode drama follows the fictional Miller family, whose lives unravel when their 13-year-old son, Jamie, is arrested for fatally stabbing a female classmate. The show explores how online misogynistic influencers played a role in shaping Jamie’s worldview, culminating in the tragic act of violence. Since its release ten days ago, Adolescence has gripped audiences worldwide, becoming the most-watched show on Netflix last weekend. According to sources cited by The Times, the new school guidance aims to "enable schools to tackle harmful behavior and ensure that misogyny is stamped out and not allowed to proliferate."

From primary school onwards, students will be encouraged to express and understand personal boundaries, manage disappointment, and recognise the needs and preferences of themselves and others. As students enter secondary education, lessons will expand to include discussions on healthy romantic and sexual relationships, including key concepts such as consent, kindness, and mutual respect.