Latest news with #RSHE
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Knife crime lessons should be mandatory
A charity is calling for all primary school children to be taught how to avoid getting involved in knife crime as part of the national curriculum. Maya Joseph-Hussain, who is chief executive at the Safety Centre in Milton Keynes, said "every young child should have access to this education". Knife crime prevention is discussed in schools but is not mandatory. The government says it is reviewing how the issue is taught as part of a wider review into relationships, sex and health education (RSHE). "There have been so many incidents where young people have tragically lost their lives," said Ms Joseph-Hussain. "The sooner we equip them, the sooner we increase their chances of staying safe and leading safe and happy lives." Staff at the Safety Centre began giving knife crime sessions to schoolchildren after noticing an increase in knife-enabled crimes. The number of knife-enabled crimes was 4% higher in England and Wales in the year ending September 2024, compared with the previous year. But Thames Valley Police - the local force for Buckinghamshire - says it has seen an 8% reduction in knife crime over the past year. Trips to the Safety Centre see pupils learn how to remove themselves from difficult situations, about criminal responsibility and the concept of joint enterprise - where multiple people can be convicted of the same crime, even if they did not directly commit it. Since 2022, the charity says more than 20,000 children and young people have attended a session. Knife crime prevention is talked about in schools as part of RHSE. But the National Education Union says the current system "does not allow for enough time for important matters to be sufficiently discussed and addressed, such as knife crime prevention". It added that "these issues do not begin and end at the school gates" and has called on the government to do more. The Department for Education says it is reviewing RHSE guidance to "make sure it remains relevant and protects children's well-being". The results from that are set to be published in autumn 2025. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Knife crime: 'There is a war going on in the UK' Majority of teen homicide victims killed by blade, says ONS 'Rise in knife crime truly frightening,' says Kemp Safety Centre Review of RHSE statutory guidance
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Knife crime lessons should be mandatory
A charity is calling for all primary school children to be taught how to avoid getting involved in knife crime as part of the national curriculum. Maya Joseph-Hussain, who is chief executive at the Safety Centre in Milton Keynes, said "every young child should have access to this education". Knife crime prevention is discussed in schools but is not mandatory. The government says it is reviewing how the issue is taught as part of a wider review into relationships, sex and health education (RSHE). "There have been so many incidents where young people have tragically lost their lives," said Ms Joseph-Hussain. "The sooner we equip them, the sooner we increase their chances of staying safe and leading safe and happy lives." Staff at the Safety Centre began giving knife crime sessions to schoolchildren after noticing an increase in knife-enabled crimes. The number of knife-enabled crimes was 4% higher in England and Wales in the year ending September 2024, compared with the previous year. But Thames Valley Police - the local force for Buckinghamshire - says it has seen an 8% reduction in knife crime over the past year. Trips to the Safety Centre see pupils learn how to remove themselves from difficult situations, about criminal responsibility and the concept of joint enterprise - where multiple people can be convicted of the same crime, even if they did not directly commit it. Since 2022, the charity says more than 20,000 children and young people have attended a session. Knife crime prevention is talked about in schools as part of RHSE. But the National Education Union says the current system "does not allow for enough time for important matters to be sufficiently discussed and addressed, such as knife crime prevention". It added that "these issues do not begin and end at the school gates" and has called on the government to do more. The Department for Education says it is reviewing RHSE guidance to "make sure it remains relevant and protects children's well-being". The results from that are set to be published in autumn 2025. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Knife crime: 'There is a war going on in the UK' Majority of teen homicide victims killed by blade, says ONS 'Rise in knife crime truly frightening,' says Kemp Safety Centre Review of RHSE statutory guidance
BBC News
23-04-2025
- BBC News
Milton Keynes charity wants mandatory knife crime education
A charity is calling for all primary school children to be taught how to avoid getting involved in knife crime as part of the national Joseph-Hussain, who is chief executive at the Safety Centre in Milton Keynes, said "every young child should have access to this education".Knife crime prevention is discussed in schools but is not government says it is reviewing how the issue is taught as part of a wider review into relationships, sex and health education (RSHE). "There have been so many incidents where young people have tragically lost their lives," said Ms Joseph-Hussain."The sooner we equip them, the sooner we increase their chances of staying safe and leading safe and happy lives." Staff at the Safety Centre began giving knife crime sessions to schoolchildren after noticing an increase in knife-enabled number of knife-enabled crimes was 4% higher in England and Wales in the year ending September 2024, compared with the previous Thames Valley Police - the local force for Buckinghamshire - says it has seen an 8% reduction in knife crime over the past to the Safety Centre see pupils learn how to remove themselves from difficult situations, about criminal responsibility and the concept of joint enterprise - where multiple people can be convicted of the same crime, even if they did not directly commit 2022, the charity says more than 20,000 children and young people have attended a session. Knife crime prevention is talked about in schools as part of the National Education Union says the current system "does not allow for enough time for important matters to be sufficiently discussed and addressed, such as knife crime prevention".It added that "these issues do not begin and end at the school gates" and has called on the government to do Department for Education says it is reviewing RHSE guidance to "make sure it remains relevant and protects children's well-being".The results from that are set to be published in autumn 2025. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Labour blocks parents from knowing what children are taught in schools
The Government has rejected calls to introduce a right for parents to view what children are being taught in schools. Ministers were among Labour MPs to vote down an amendment to its Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill on Tuesday that would have ensured parents could view all materials used in the classroom. The Conservatives, who tabled the amendment, argued that it would have made the content of lessons more transparent. It followed concerns that some schools have blocked parents from seeing sex education materials being taught to their children, citing commercial confidentiality and copyright laws. Neil O'Brien, the shadow schools minister, told The Telegraph he was 'appalled' by the 'Kafkaesque' decision to topple the amendment, which was defeated with 10 votes to three at a committee stage. 'In recent years, extreme Left-wing groups have been pumping all kinds of bizarre materials into sex education classes and other lessons. Yet, when parents ask to see the materials, the companies hide behind copyright law to deny access,' he said. 'I was appalled that Labour voted down our amendment to allow parents to see what their children are being taught… Labour backbenchers argued that parents should not be allowed to see the materials because they might be angry. 'This is a Kafkaesque argument and underlines exactly why we must end secret lessons and let parents see what their children are being taught.' Catherine McKinnell, the schools minister, argued during a Commons debate on the subject that enshrining the parental right in law would be burdensome for schools. She said: 'The new clause is a sledgehammer to crack a nut. There is no evidence of a widespread problem that would justify the extra burden and bureaucracy it would create for schools. 'It is right that parents and carers should be able to access and understand what their child is taught at school, so that they can continue to support their child's learning at home and answer questions. However, that should be achieved in a way that does not increase school and teacher workload.' It comes after Gillian Keegan, the former Tory education secretary, wrote to schools in October 2023 urging them to allow parents to view material being taught in relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) classes. Current Department for Education (DfE) guidance states that schools should 'respond positively' if a parent requests to see sex education materials. It adds that parents must still be allowed to view such resources 'on the school premises' even if an external organisation owns the copyright. Labour is currently reviewing a sex education overhaul drawn up by the Tories. Rishi Sunak's government launched a consultation over its proposed RSHE shake-up, plus separate guidance for gender-questioning children that proposed a ban on teaching gender ideology. A decision on whether to implement the new policies was halted by the general election. Labour is yet to decide what to do with the Tories' proposals and the party is currently sifting through tens of thousands of responses to the consultation. The Government will make a decision on whether to implement the twin sets of guidance before the summer holidays, The Telegraph understands. Ministers have also launched a curriculum and assessment review, which is due to publish its initial findings in early 2025. The review will consider a root-and-branch overhaul of the current education system in England, from the first year of primary school until when the children turn 18. It will mark the first major curriculum revamp in over a decade. Submissions to the review from leading education groups have called for bold reforms, including making climate change lessons compulsory, decolonising the curriculum and moving classes outdoors. Tom Hayes, the Labour MP for Bournemouth East, claimed the Tories' amendment to the Schools Bill would have created a platform for parents to complain against teaching material according to their own prejudices. He cited the case of one parent who demanded to see their child's curriculum after learning their school was touting Marcus Rashford, the English footballer who campaigned for free school meals during the pandemic, as 'a social justice hero'. Mr Hayes warned that granting parents the right to view such resources could have a 'chilling or stifling effect' on teachers, and prohibit 'their willingness to cite Marcus Rashford as a social justice hero in the future'. The Government also rejected calls for a ban on smartphones in schools after a separate amendment tabled by the Tories was rejected with 10 votes to six. The previous Tory government issued guidance backing headteachers in restricting access to phones in schools but stopped short of binding rules. The party later stepped up its position ahead of the general election and pledged to make the guidance statutory. Damian Hinds, the former shadow education secretary, told the Commons debate on Tuesday that 'the world has continued to change since then', as he called for the Government to issue a statutory ban. 'When it comes to mobile phone use and our worries about children… worries have only deepened and intensified,' he said. Labour MPs also rejected a further amendment tabled by the Tories demanding a new duty for schools to report acts of violence against staff to police. Latest DfE data show there were 24,121 pupil suspensions in state schools for a 'physical assault against an adult' in the autumn term of 2023/24. Schools also made 770 pupil expulsions citing violence against an adult over the same period. Mr O'Brien said the Opposition party were 'not looking to criminalise children, but we should not expect teachers to suck up abuse that we would never expect other professionals to'. 'If we log what is going on, we have a chance of avoiding things that can escalate over time,' he said. Ms McKinnell insisted there were already appropriate provisions in place in schools 'to prevent and respond to violence on their premises'. Laura Trott, the shadow education secretary, said: 'It's a shame that Labour MPs could not put politics aside and back our amendments to ban smartphones in schools, protect teachers by reporting all acts of violence against them to the police & enable parents to see what their children are being taught in schools. 'Once again, Labour have put ideology above children, teachers and parents.' A DfE spokesman said: 'Our landmark Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill will be a seminal moment for the safety and success of our children, with new safeguards for our most vulnerable children and more flexibility and innovation across schools to ensure every child has a core high quality education. 'It is right that parents are able to see what their children are being taught. Schools are already required to publish details of their curriculum content online and set out where parents and carers can find out more information.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
The Independent
05-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
PM says he will ‘push forward' agenda of tackling suicide among young people
Sir Keir Starmer said more must be done to tackle suicide among young people, after a Conservative MP claimed progress on the issue had stalled. The Prime Minister said he would meet the 3 Dads Walking group, who have raised more than £1 million for a charity working to reduce suicide. Suicide is the biggest killer of people under 35, with the latest figures at their highest point since 1999 in England and Wales, according to the Office for National Statistics. In 2023, 6,069 people took their lives in the two countries, the statistics agency reported. Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Conservative MP Dr Neil Hudson (Epping Forest) said: 'Andy Airey, Tim Owen and Mike Palmer are the 3 Dads Walking. They each tragically lost their precious daughters Sophie, Emily and Beth to suicide, and they have campaigned tirelessly for suicide prevention to be included in the school curriculum in an age-appropriate way. 'We met with the previous prime minister in Downing Street and suicide prevention was added to the RSHE curriculum guidance for consultation last year. 'I know the Prime Minister has met the three dads and supports their campaign. But sadly progress has stalled. Please would the Prime Minister meet with me and the three dads so we can finally get this over the line, so we can ultimately save lives.' The 3 Dads Walking group have raised money by walking across the United Kingdom since 2021. In 2022 their 31-day walk took in Belfast, Edinburgh, Cardiff and London. Last year their 'Walk of Hope' went from Stirling in Scotland to Norwich. In opposition Labour pledged to reverse the rise in suicides, including giving special training to mental health professionals to support people who self-harm. Speaking in the Commons on Wednesday, Sir Keir said: 'I thank him for steadfastly raising this really important issue, particularly during children's mental health week. 'I have met the 3 Dads Walking, they're inspirational, their courage is extraordinary. As the father of young children I don't know how they're able to campaign in the way that they do. I'm not sure I would be able to do so. 'Of course I can assure him that I will meet them again, and I will push this agenda, this really important agenda, forward.'
