The government cannot continue to ignore the widespread problem of domestic abuse among teenagers and young adults. 16-19-year-olds have been proven to be a vulnerable group but the government has not made it a mandatory teaching requirement after Year 11, which is nonsensical. 

QUOTE FROM THE 'SAFE LIVES' OCTOBER 2022 REPORT ON RSE IN ENGLISH SCHOOLS ; AGES 11-16:

“There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that partner violence amongst young people is relatively widespread (Korkmaz et al., 2020). One study of 74,908 school students aged 11-16, found that 18% of girls and 16% of boys reported instigating emotional dating violence (Young et al., 2019.). Findings from the Young Best Friend Project, in which SafeLives and partners conducted research into how girls, young women and non-binary people conduct relationships, found that coercive and controlling behaviours are so common in their social circles, they consider them normal (Daw, 2021).”

These statistics are worrying and we urge the government to think BEYOND secondary school and consider implementing RSE classes on domestic abuse, healthy relationships and more at sixth form and college.

DOMESTIC ABUSE CANT WAIT!

- The Make it Mandatory Team