Education on women’s safety added to Year 11 curriculum

Saturday 02 October 2021

An initiative raising awareness of women's safety has been introduced to the island’s PSHE curriculum for Year 11 students.

'BE LADS' was created by Poppy Murray, with the aim of helping women to feel safer when out alone, while giving advice to young men about how they can help.

Miss Murray first came up with the idea back in March: “I launched the BE LADS initiative in the wake of the case of Sarah Everard, to help bring men and women together on the issue of women’s safety, without demonising men.”

After presenting her proposals to Home Affairs and Law Enforcement, Miss Murray was put in contact with PSHE Adviser, Amanda Evans, who believed the programme would be of huge benefit.

“The lesson Poppy has created aims to enable girls and women to feel safer when they walk alone and teaches boys and men how they can help," she said. 

“Our current PSHE curriculum provides our young people with the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to build healthy relationships, keep themselves safe and empower them in their daily lives and Poppy’s BE LADS lesson both complements and strengthens this programme.”

Miss Murray’s lesson plan was presented to PSHE co-ordinators on Tuesday and was very well-received, with PSHE co-ordinator for the Guernsey Grammar School, Jackie Davies, thanking Miss Murray for bringing her ideas to schools in an interesting, informative and engaging way. 

“As well as supporting our PSHE curriculum, with even more awareness about how to keep safe and have healthy relationships, it also informs the students how to be active and responsible citizens in their communities, which is an integral part of PSHE and the Bailiwick curriculum,” she added.

It has been supported politically by Deputy Gavin St Pier, who initially introduced Miss Murray to Ms Evans: “I am absolutely delighted with the response that Poppy has received.”

“The real prize from the BE LADS initiative will come from future generations both being better informed and behaving differently.”