Schools in England and Wales urged to teach relationship violence prevention

Youth Endowment Fund says specialised lessons needed to tackle issues such as abuse, consent and coercion

A thinktank is calling for schools to appoint relationship violence prevention leaders, modelled on the success of mental health coordinators, as teachers say they are ill-equipped to advise on the complex issues involved.

A study by the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF), supported by the Home Office, wants young teenagers in England and Wales to be taught relationship violence prevention lessons", aimed at tackling emotional, physical and sexual violence, psychological abuse, stalking and harassment.