Staff training deals with the dangers of online misogyny
In light of recent developments in the news, Rydal Penrhos staff participated in a training session covering the dangers of radical ideologies that are gaining traction online, posing risks to both girls and boys.
Rydal Penrhos places prime importance on ensuring its staff are kept up to date with the latest information and training. Teachers participate in five INSET (in-service training) days each academic year, the contents of which continually evolve to adapt to the issues of the time and their effects on children and young people.
Stories at the forefront of the news-cycle in early 2023 have brought issues of online extremism and misogyny to the attention of parents and schools. Against this backdrop, Mrs Richardson, Leader of PSHE and RSE in the Senior School, offered a presentation to teachers detailing the cultural forces giving rise to the problem.
The presentation outlined the ideas and internet personalities that have gained traction with young men and boys on social media, capitalising on male disillusionment to propagate a dangerous and misogynistic brand of masculinity. Teachers were also introduced to the language surrounding the subject, which can be difficult to understand.
Providing an insight into the terminology was just one way in which the training aimed to equip teachers with the tools to not only recognise the signs of someone being radicalised, but to discuss the matter with girls and boys in a supportive, constructive manner.
While attending a quality coeducational school with a culture based around healthy social relationships and respect like Rydal Penrhos can go a long way to counter the conditions that give rise to these ideologies, the school is keenly aware of the need to be alert to their spread and, crucially, address the underlying difficulties that drive boys and young men down these rabbit holes.
The school hopes to take a discursive approach that will allow both girls and boys to talk about not just this key issue, but the broader PSHE and RSE curriculums, within the safety of the classroom environment; all underpinned by robust safeguarding and mental health first aid procedures that ensure the safety and security of all pupils.
Rydal Penrhos appreciates the key collaborative role parents play in promoting the wellbeing and flourishing of pupils, as well as the concerns that parents might have regarding these worrying new trends in the culture. The school will do as much as it can to support parents and keep you informed of developments in this area.
With this in mind, it was recently announced that a Parent Workshop will take place on Wednesday 22 March, the aim of which will be to explain how we teach the new Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) curriculum and how we work, as a whole school community, to help pupils remain informed and confident learners. For more information, please keep an eye on the Parent Weekly Email over the coming weeks.