ABSTRACT
Sexualised peer-on-peer abuse is rife in schools. Schools have responded to the Ofsted requirement that they strengthen their Behaviour and Safeguarding Policies but there is a gap is policy of what pro-active steps schools can take to eradicate this abuse. This book proposes three solutions. 1. School should focus on supporting boys to create relational cultures which are gentle, mutually supportive and dignified. The reason boys and men behave badly towards girls and women fundamentally stems from the way boys and men relate to each other. 2. School should guide boys to consider and choose a form of masculinity for themselves as individuals and their group that is gentle and works for everyone. The book makes the distinction between ‘gentle’ and ‘sour’ masculinity. 3. The Working with Boys programme should be delivered at the of the age of loss of innocence. This occurs when boys are around 11 to 12 years old. To support these three solutions, schools need to listen to and survey their pupils to learn about the everyday lived experience of being in school, especially in relation to relational cultures. Schools need to teach the skills of self-regulation so that boys can achieve interactions with each other and with girls and women that are consistently dignified. Many boys already treat each other and girls and women respectfully. The Working with Boys programme should be a positive and empowering experience for everyone.
