Schools haven’t received the support or training to protect children and young people from growing dangers like social media and misogyny, according to a new Tender report.

Tender has warned that a lack of funding, resources and specialist training have left teachers ill-equipped to deliver crucial RSHE education, and young people vulnerable to become victims – and perpetrators – of abuse.

The government’s new RSHE guidance aims to protect young people from negative influences like misogyny, pornography, incel culture, and AI dangers. Mandatory since September 2026, the guidance plays a key role in the government strategy to prevent violence against women and girls (VAWG).

However, Tender’s new report, Ready for RSHE? argues that this new complex guidance has not been matched by additional time in the curriculum, ringfenced funding or specialist training for teachers who deliver it.

Only 20% of teachers questioned by Tender have high confidence in delivering RSHE[1]. However, of the teachers who received training, 91% had the confidence to deliver it effectively.[2]

Key findings

Tender’s report combines a review of published evidence with Tender’s own programme data from the 2025-26 academic year. It found that:

• 42% of schools signing up for Tender’s programmes cited online harms and social media as the most concerning challenge for them presently.

• 42% of teachers surveyed named misogyny, toxic masculinity, the manosphere or related issues when asked about further training needs.

• Before Tender’s programmes, only 19% of secondary students said they knew where to find support or advice about relationships, 23% about the role of power and control, and 22% about spotting early warning signs of abuse. Following Tender’s expert programmes, these had increased to 61%, 66% and 65% respectively.[3]

Primary school children are particularly vulnerable. The new RSHE guidance as well as other recent VAWG initiatives fail to address this age group, despite primary staff reporting the same issues and attitudes secondary schools must address.

Susie McDonald, CEO of Tender, says:

‘Schools across the country are reaching crisis point, facing misogynist attitudes, violence and sexual harassment on a daily basis.

‘We work with teachers every day – they’re telling us that they haven’t the skills or confidence to address these challenges and deliver RSHE effectively. But they’re also telling us how expert relationships education like Tender’s can transform the whole school community.

‘Plans and guidance don’t create change – education does. All schools – primary and secondary – need the training, funding and specialist support to deliver this curriculum, to embed high-quality healthy relationships education.

‘Every child deserves to learn about healthy relationships. If the government is committed to preventing VAWG, every school needs their support.’

[1] In the schools involved in Tender’s whole-school programme RE:SET this year, only 20% of staff who teach RSHE agreed they felt confident delivering all aspects of RSHE.

[2] Amongst staff who agreed they had received adequate training, 91% felt confident in delivering all aspects of RSHE.

[3] Only 19% of secondary students said they knew a lot or a good amount about where to find support or advice about relationships, 23% about the role of power and control, and 22% about spotting early warning signs of abuse. After the workshop those figures were 61%, 66% and 65% respectively.

Notes to editors

Tender CEO Susie McDonald MBE is available for interview.  

For interview requests and further media enquiries, please contact katevine@tender.org.uk  and isadora@tender.org.uk.  

Visit Tender’s Media centre.