Campaign group launches 'consent education' course for schools

Reclaim These Streets, a group created in the wake of the death of 33-year-old Sarah Everard who was kidnapped while walking home alone from a friend's house in early March, has joined forces with political and media literacy organisation Shout Out UK to provide the lessons.

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• Getting sexual health and relationships education right

The class, which will be offered to schools across Britain, is split into three sessions - the first covering consent and its relationship to the law, including autonomy, rights, harm, healthy relationships, and religion.

The second will cover myths relating to sexual harassment, assault/rape, and victim blaming and the third focusing on those concepts in relation to the online space, with themes such as sending nudes, revenge porn and online harassment.

Reclaim These Streets said that while consent education does exist in British schools, many students argue that the current provisions are not enough.

In April, a study by the Higher Education Policy Institute found that the majority of student respondents (58 per cent) believe they should pass a test on sexual consent before entering university.

Anna Birley, co-founder of Reclaim These Streets, said: “It isn’t OK that we grow up being told that it’s fine when a boy pulls our hair because it means he likes us.

"We have an opportunity to change that damaging narrative, and to engage boys and girls in a conversation about consent and respect, so that the next generation of men can champion women’s right to walk unmolested and unharassed in all public spaces. We’re delighted to work with Shout Out UK on this - they have an amazing record of working in schools and helping young people grapple with many of the most important and contentious issues of the day.”

Matteo Bergamini, chief executive of Shout Out UK, said: “We are proud to support this amazing group in tackling this problem in the classroom. Much like Political and Media Literacy, consent education is often absent in schools.

"Considering that a recent poll has shown that seven out of 10 women in Britain experience some form of sexual harassment in a public space, as a man I feel it is my obligation to help tackle an issue pervasive within my gender. No, it's not all men, but it is predominantly men, so let's stop being triggered and making excuses, and instead work together to find a solution.”

Caroline Nokes MP, chair of the women and equalities committee said: "Every woman I know has experienced public sexual harassment of some form, and so it is critical that we tackle the culture and attitudes that embolden some men to behave this way. This new partnership is a step in the right direction, working with students and teachers to have meaningful conversations about consent, respect and gender."