Curriculum for Change – Integrating Coercive Control Awareness in Schools

My last newsletter was focused around how schools can reduce the likelihood of coercive control occurring within the school setting through awareness programmes. It is my belief that education within schools plays a crucial role in preventing and combating coercive control by raising awareness, fostering healthy relationship skills, and providing support mechanisms.

The focus of this newsletter is on something that is very close to my heart. Something that I have been working on for the past 4 years with the sole pursue of helping young people and teachers within education to gain knowledge, understanding and insight and a conscious shift into the insidious nature of coercive control.?

Curriculum awareness or Curricular Integration by allowing a whole school curriculum on coercive control, consent, the dynamics of coercive control, the continuum of behaviours associated with coercive control, and giving space to young people to challenge the narratives, perceptions and beliefs of relationships that surround them. Schools are actively helping and supporting the whole school culture with gaining knowledge and understanding of coercive control.

Many that work with young people within schools do place young people in high regard and genuinely want young people to be safe and progress in life. But what is of concern is how they can make this happen. How, as a school can this be put into practice and genuinely make a difference in the lives of the young people that they work closely with?

Having had the experience of being a high school teacher myself I know first-hand how the demands on teaching and support staff roles can be a struggle on a daily basis. This is not even taking into consideration the expectations from the DFE.

When dealing with issues such as relationships, consent, misogyny and other areas of concern, what we do need to understand and be clear about is that while things can never to be totally eradicated within coercive control, much of these areas of concern are rooted within coercive control. Having, a curriculum which is interactive and thought provoking for young people and teachers can only help within these areas.

The following are benefits of having a whole school curriculum for secondary schools on coercive control can have.

Support

The curriculum can provide support resources for those being subjected to coercive control, furthermore, interacting and studying real-life cases that are age appropriate, young people can be begin to truly empathise how being subjected to this type of abuse can impact individual lives and the wider community.

Social Change

By addressing coercive control in schools, it can contribute to broader societal awareness and efforts to combat this form of abuse.

Empowerment

This can encourage young people to speak about their experiences and begin to change the narratives that abuse is not abuse if it is not physical. (Coercive control can include physical violence)

Prevention

While I always say that coercive control can never be totally eradicated, especially when there are major issues and concerns in our current legal system for holding perpetrators accountable for coercive and controlling behaviour. What we can do is educate young people about coercive control early on which will help them to be more informed about the choices and decisions that they may or may not make within the spectrum of coercive control to have the best chances of preventing it.

Educational Safety (Environment)

Implementing a coercive control curriculum creates a safer and more supportive environment for young people, teachers, support staff and families as a whole.

Discover insights on Coercive control and Misogyny in our free guide, "Lis’s Mission On Empowering Schools." Gain critical understanding and join the mission to create safer spaces for young minds.

Gain profound insights into impact of coercive control by exploring our latest blog post: "Coercive Control and it's Impact on Victims". Understand the key issue effecting convictions.

Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our young people and pave the way for a healthier, more informed generation. I will leave you with my message.

Make choices and decisions that will create peace in your heart.

Much love Lis ??