Whole-school approaches give hope in tackling sexism - so what are we waiting for?

Misogyny is becoming alarmingly normalised in schools. According to the 2026 Teachers' Union survey which received over 5,000 responses, nearly a quarter of female teachers were subject to misogyny from a pupil in the last year (an increasing trend). At the same time, teachers feel the issue is not taken seriously enough by school leaders.

We do, however, know which steps schools and communities can take to address the harms of prejudices and discrimination. Earlier this year, UK Feminista published a report documenting lessons learned after three years implementing a ‘whole school approach’ (2022 - 2025) to tackle sexism and sexual harassment in six different education settings, including a mixed-sex state primary school.

What is a whole school approach?

A whole school approach creates an overarching framework to tackle sexism and sexual harassment. It recognises that the issue is systemic and requires long term action within schools and communities as opposed to one-off solutions and interventions. Simply put, it builds on three pillars: 

1. An institutional framework is established 

2. Training is provided for all staff to feel equipped and confident 

3. Support is provided to students to learn, report and take positive action

Findings show that for a whole school approach to be meaningful, we need collective action. This means involving everyone in a given education setting - from senior leadership to the governing body, students, parents and carers. 

Engaging parents and carers for better outcomes

Engaging parents and carers is key to effective delivery and long-term sustainability of the Whole School Approach Action Plan. When they feel informed and confident in discussing gender norms, sexism, and related issues, conversations can continue at home, helping to extend learning beyond the school environment.  

Parent/carer involvement as part of the whole school approach pilot was varied and included: sending letters home about the whole school approach and information about UK Feminista; sharing email bulletins on key issues (e.g., misogyny); and making use of parent evenings or other events such as parent coffee mornings to share information. 

Understanding the scale of the issue, trends and attitudes towards sexism can be a key first step in tackling it. One school carried out a survey amongst parents and carers to gather data on attitudes towards sexism and sexual harassment at home. 

Parents' inputs, insights,  as well as perceptions of how well schools deal with incidents provide valuable perspectives and can inform interventions. This should accompany student and teacher surveys and form part of continuous feedback cycles.

“For too long, sexism and sexual harassment have been everyday experiences for women and girls working and learning in schools – but this is not inevitable. Through UK Feminista’s work supporting schools to combat sexism and sexual harassment, it is clear that whole school approaches - embedded across policies, practices and culture - are the only way we can deliver lasting change. A systemic problem demands a systemic response that involves every member of the school community, including parents and carers. We are pleased to work alongside Misogyny Free Schools in supporting parents and carers to play a crucial role in this work."  - Nina Humphries, Director of UK Feminista

Urgent call for government action

The updated government Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education guidance recommends a whole school approach, recognising that wellbeing and healthy relationships must be embedded across school life. National strategies increasingly highlight that early prevention is essential and schools have a key role in challenging harmful attitudes before they become entrenched. 

The UK Feminista report shows that while policy is moving in the right direction, delivery is uneven. In practice, whether schools take action often depends on leadership priorities, staff confidence, and access to training and resources.

The report calls for greater political will to support schools to adopt whole-school approaches. This includes clearer expectations, better funding for training and leadership support, and stronger accountability so that this work is consistent, not optional, and part of everyday school practice.

What can parents do?

Parents and carers have a vital role to play in turning these recommendations into reality. One of the most powerful actions is to engage directly with your child’s school and this pilot shows this can start in primary schools. Resources from Misogyny-Free Schools UK can support conversations and provide examples of good practice.

Parents/carers can also write to their MP to ask for stronger implementation of the UK Feminista recommendations, including clearer national expectations and funding for whole-school approaches in all schools.