It has been announced that teachers will be given training to spot the signs of misogyny and tackle it in the classroom as part of the government's strategy to halve violence against women and girls within the next decade.
It has been announced that teachers will be given training to spot the signs of misogyny and tackle it in the classroom as part of the government’s strategy to halve violence against women and girls within the next decade.
Jo-anne Lomax, head of the Morecrofts Family Law Team gives her response to the move.
As a family solicitor specialising in domestic abuse, I see every day the devastating impact that controlling, coercive and abusive behaviour has on individuals and families. Much of my work focuses on helping people leave harmful relationships and navigate the legal process that follows. Increasingly, however, I am also seeing the importance of asking a more fundamental question: how early does this behaviour begin?
The government’s announcement that teachers will be trained to spot early signs of misogyny in boys is therefore a welcome and necessary development. Tackling harmful attitudes at an early stage – before they become ingrained patterns of behaviour – is essential if we are serious about reducing domestic abuse in the long term.
What teachers are being asked to do?
The proposals aim to equip teachers with the knowledge and confidence to identify early warning signs such as sexist language, entitlement, controlling behaviour and the influence of online misogynistic content. Schools are often the first place where these attitudes surface, and teachers are frequently the first trusted adults to notice when something is wrong.
Providing education around healthy relationships, consent and respect is not about criminalising young people, it is about intervening early and constructively, before harm escalates.
What I am seeing in practice
From my professional experience, this focus on early intervention is long overdue. I am seeing far more cases involving teenagers and young people where patterns of domestic abuse are already present. These include emotional abuse, coercive control and digital monitoring, often framed by young people as “normal” behaviour.
These cases reinforce an uncomfortable truth: abusive behaviour does not suddenly emerge in adulthood. It is often learned, normalised and reinforced during adolescence, influenced by peers, online content and a lack of clear boundaries around respect and relationships.
While the intentions behind this initiative are positive, there are legitimate concerns about whether it will be properly funded and sustainably delivered.
Schools are already under significant pressure, dealing with safeguarding responsibilities, mental health concerns, staff shortages and increasing workloads. Expecting teachers to take on additional training and responsibility without sufficient time, resources and specialist support risks undermining the effectiveness of the programme.
Without long-term investment, there is a danger that this becomes another well-meaning policy that struggles to deliver meaningful change on the ground.
Prevention must sit alongside support
Early intervention in schools is vital, but it must be part of a joined-up approach. In my work as a solicitor, I see first-hand how stretched domestic abuse support services already are from refuges and counselling services to legal advice and court support.
Preventing future abuse cannot come at the expense of adequately supporting those who are already experiencing it. Both prevention and protection require sustained funding and political commitment. There also needs to be joined up thinking about tackling domestic abuse within the family home and providing education as to the devastating and long-term impact this has on child development, mental health and future relationships.
Continuing the conversation in the region
At Morecrofts, we are committed to contributing to this wider conversation. We are proud to host the Liverpool Domestic Abuse Conference on 15 June 2026, bringing together professionals from across the legal, education, safeguarding and support sectors to explore how we can better prevent abuse, support survivors and respond effectively when harm occurs.
Initiatives like training teachers to spot early signs of misogyny are a step in the right direction. To truly make a difference, they must be supported by proper funding, clear guidance and collaboration across all sectors involved in tackling domestic abuse.
So whilst I welcome this initiative and the fact that we are looking at diverse ways to tackle domestic abuse, it is a case of watch this space and alongside all of the other agencies involved in this sector, we must continue to apply pressure on the government to honour their promises and to properly fund these much needed initiatives.