Tackling harmful attitudes in schools: Tameside pilot promotes healthy relationships

As part of Behaviour Awareness Week, the Reporter takes a look at a recent pilot scheme that took place in schools to shine a light on respect and relationships.

A pioneering pilot scheme aimed at tackling harmful gender stereotypes and promoting healthy relationships has been successfully delivered in Tameside schools.

The year-long project was commissioned by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council and delivered by TLC: Talk, Listen, Change, a North of England charity that has specialised in relationship support for over 40 years.

The scheme involved two high schools and three primary schools, with children in Years 5, 6, 7 and 8 taking part in a 10-week curriculum focusing on preventing domestic abuse and supporting safer schools for women and girls.

The pilot forms part of a wider domestic abuse prevention strategy, designed amid growing concern around sexist attitudes and harassment in schools. Research by the charity Safe Lives revealed that nearly half of boys and a third of girls aged 13–14 believe hitting a partner is “okay.” Meanwhile, a survey by the End Violence Against Women Coalition found that almost a third of girls feel unsafe from sexual harassment in school.

Speaking to the Tameside Reporter, Eve Hodkinson, Children and Young People’s Worker at TLC, explained that the programme took a “whole-school approach” to prevention, involving safeguarding leads, teachers, parents and pupils.

The sessions covered topics such as healthy and unhealthy relationships, consent, gender stereotypes and online literacy. Children were also encouraged to critically reflect on the information they consume online, including harmful messages from influencers such as Andrew Tate.

One all-girls school involved in the pilot also hosted a special session on female empowerment.

Feedback from the pilot has been encouraging. Of the young people who took part:

              •            81% said they felt more confident about consent

              •            84% said they felt better able to recognise gender stereotypes

John Hughes, Service Manager at TLC, said: “The sad fact is that we’ve seen a shocking rise in sexism in our schools over the past few years. Many children now have near limitless access to harmful online content spread by hugely influential figures. This is negatively influencing a generation of young people and has the potential to impact the safety of women and girls throughout the school system.

“That’s why this pilot is so important. We need to be having frank, honest conversations with children and help them to understand how to build healthy relationships and how to support each other.”

Talk, Listen, Change is a relationships charity that began in Greater Manchester and now supports people across England. Its work focuses on ensuring communities benefit from good emotional wellbeing, recognising that safe, healthy and happy relationships are central to this goal.

The charity supports not only couples and families but also individuals, helping people to develop positive relationships with themselves as well as others.
Tameside Council Executive Member for Public Health, Cllr Taf Sharif, said: “Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) is not just a priority for Tameside Council — it’s a moral imperative. We are absolutely committed to challenging the harmful attitudes and behaviours that underpin abuse, and that work must start with our young people.

"Through powerful programmes like Blind Side and our Whole School Approach to VAWG, we are working with schools to directly confront gender-based stereotypes, educate on healthy relationships, and provide vital support. Schools are where culture begins — and it’s there we must begin shaping a future free from violence and misogyny.

“Our partnership with organisations like the Bridges Partnership and campaigns such as White Ribbon reinforces this mission — engaging not just young people, but communities, businesses, and especially men and boys, to take a stand and be part of the solution.

“I’m proud to confirm that we are recommissioning both school-based programmes for another 12 months. This investment will continue to empower girls and boys to recognise abuse, speak out, and help embed a culture of zero tolerance in our schools.

“This work is about building a future where every woman and girl in Tameside feels safe, valued, and respected — and we will not relent in driving that change forward.

“Our efforts are fully aligned with the Greater Manchester Gender-Based Violence Strategy, and we remain resolute in supporting victims, challenging perpetrators, and transforming attitudes wherever they take root.”