Home Safe project: Domestic violence prevention education

The sample domestic violence prevention education curriculum for primary and secondary schools shows a brief outline of what this work would include. All of our schools in Islington are already covering most of these issues in their PSHE and Citizenship classes, such as bullying, safe relationships, anger management, conflict resolution and anti-discrimination. This topic therefore integrates well into these subjects and will compliment the work schools are already doing to build safer communities and promote healthy relationships.

Work with pupils on money management, household financing, career opportunities and where to go for help and advice in the school and wider community are also contributing to domestic violence prevention by teaching children independence and self-respect for example.

Domestic violence prevention education focuses on conflict resolution and safe relationships with an important gender perspective, which is often overlooked. This work directly addresses the gendered power dynamics that feature in domestic violence and encourages boys and girls to respect each other as equals and to challenge sexist behaviours and language, which can legitimise and encourage violence against women and girls. This focus is in line with all the recent national guidelines that have been produced for schools on tackling domestic violence, from many Governmental departments and the National Union of Teachers (NUT) for example.