Gender equality in education and learning: Children's Parliament report

Calls to Action

Children have highlighted the depth and complexity of the issue of gender equality in education. It is clear that all girls are impacted by gender inequality from an early age both inside and outside of the school environment. These experiences are shaping their lives from attendance levels, attainment and their levels of confidence and wellbeing. While this work is about the education system, any concerned adult observer would conclude that wide-reaching societal and systemic change is needed to address these issues.

The girls who have participated in our discussions acknowledge that change will not come quickly, and they appreciate the scope of the work being undertaken; however, they are adamant that things need to improve, starting now.

'We all grew up with it, just get on with it, or it won't change.'

Primary girl.

As a result of this work, these are our Calls to Action:

Support friendships and relationships between girls and boys

• Promote kindness in school
• Encourage mixed friendship groups
• Create spaces where children can share their experiences and build empathy

Provide regular, mandated training for all adults in school

• Train staff to recognise gender inequality
• Provide strategies for how to end gender inequality
• Instill a zero-tolerance approach to sexism and sexual violence
• Include PSAs, coaches and playground supervisors in all training offers to ensure that girls are protected in the playground, pitch and classroom
• Ensure staff delivering RSHP in primary and secondary settings are adequately trained and can deliver with confidence

Review the curriculum

• Improve RSHP and PSE provision
• Educate children, especially boys, about gender inequality and the challenges faced by women and girls from an early age
• Improve provision of female role models
• Remove 'female' as a prefix when talking about inspirational women
• Teach about consent from an early age
• Ensure provision of books and materials that feature strong, independent and adventurous girls
• Recruit more female teachers into male dominated fields
• Recruit more male teachers and PSAs into primary settings

Promote and support female reproductive health

• Extend learning about reproductive health into lower and mid primary for all children
• Destigmatise female bodies and reproductive health
• Allow girls to use toilets when they ask
• Deliver on commitments to provide sanitary products in all toilets (including accessible toilets) and not in school offices

Build girls' confidence

• Celebrate girls' achievements
• Listen to them and believe them
• Show them through actions that their voice is heard and their opinion matters.

Mandate safe reporting systems for sexism and sexual violence in all schools

• Train staff to support disclosures of sexism and sexual violence
• Promote reporting of incidents
• Allow anonymised reporting
• Provide safe spaces for girls to share experiences and seek support

Support inclusion of girls in sport and play

• Provide space for girls to play alongside boys
• Ensure girls are included in all sport and play
• Provide trained supervision in playgrounds and spaces where girls experience sexism and sexual violence
• Remove gendered uniforms and sports kit to allow more inclusive play

Remove gender expectations in school

• Review and change the use of language in school settings – 'strong boy', 'neat girl'
• Encourage children to try a range of activities and interests
• Review use of gendered toys and materials
• Celebrate achievements of children in all areas of their lives, not just sport

Produce a national media campaign promoting gender equality in education

• Provide learning resources and training for staff in school
• Provide promotional materials to display in all schools
• Employ influencers and celebrities to raise awareness and increase reach
• Include wider society in the campaign, feature on TV and in advertising spaces