Education Today Education Today Magazine
Concerns about the normalisation of misogynistic language in schools and online have prompted students at Gateshead College to help shape a national toolkit now being rolled out across the further education sector.
National research shows 92% of girls and 74% of boys report sexist name-calling in school, while fewer than a quarter of female pupils believe schools take sexism seriously enough. Those figures formed the backdrop to classroom discussions that led A Level sociology students to develop the ‘Flag !t’ campaign.
What began as a curriculum project has since been launched at the Association of Colleges national conference and incorporated into a Relationship and Sex Education toolkit championed through the Department for Education’s FE Student Support network. The resource is now available for colleges across England to adapt and has been translated into Welsh.
Laura Morris, Curriculum Leader for Personal and Social Development at Gateshead College, said the initiative was driven entirely by student voice.
She said: “Students were reflecting on what they see online and in their day-to-day lives. When we looked at national data alongside those conversations, it was clear this was a wider societal issue. They wanted to create something practical that could help others recognise harmful behaviours and respond constructively.
“The students have presented to sector leaders and contributed to a resource that other colleges can now use. That process has built confidence, public speaking skills and critical thinking in a way that goes far beyond a traditional assignment.”
Rather than focusing solely on extreme cases, the campaign identifies everyday ‘red flag’ behaviours that often go unchallenged, alongside ‘green flag’ behaviours that model respect and healthy relationships. It includes structured activities and a reporting framework that institutions can tailor to their own settings.
Students refined their ideas through a sector roundtable before working with designer Alex Lockey to develop materials that could be used nationally while retaining their original intent. The group later presented the campaign to more than 100 delegates at a national student services conference.
Matthew Sweet, one of the students involved, said the experience demonstrated that young people can influence wider conversations.
He said: “It started as a discussion in class. Taking it to a national audience showed us that our perspectives matter. It’s made us more aware of how everyday language shapes attitudes and has built our confidence in speaking about it.
“Standing up in front of professionals from across the country was challenging, but it showed us that young people’s perspectives are taken seriously. It has given us confidence in speaking about issues that matter and experience we would not normally get at our age.”
Interest in the campaign is extending beyond further education, with local authority representatives exploring how elements of the approach could inform work in schools and community settings.
Nadine Hudspeth, Director Brand and Learner Experience at Gateshead College, said the project reflects the college’s broader approach to education.
“We want students to leave with qualifications and with the confidence to engage critically with the world around them. This campaign shows how young people can contribute thoughtfully to complex issues while developing the communication and teamwork skills that employers value.”
The Flag !t materials form part of the national Relationship and Sex Education toolkit for the post-16 sector and are available via the Association of Colleges: https://www.aoc.co.uk/research-unit/research-projects/relationship-and-sex-education-toolkit-for-the-post-16-sector
