Decision details

The reasons for the decision are:

This GBV project is based on the views offered by local voices, young and old. Their message speaks in union about the value of the GM GBVS. For these people, as well as colleagues in the VRU, it is all about building trust, confidence, and respect amongst pupils.
Working together, we are keen that young people recognise the consequences of what they say and do, as this impacts upon how others feel. This means that this project will support positive interactions between groups of pupils – no more so than with those pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. This is relevant too for some individual pupils, who report feelings of isolation or exclusion, often because of some of the comments their peers may make. Throughout this proposal, reference is made to the voice of pupils, teachers, school leaders and those supporting the work in schools across Greater Manchester. Their voices have informed the levers and drivers behind this project. Elements of this project will specifically involve engagement with faith schools, creation of an education strategy to tackle misogyny, and work to support female teachers in relation to channelling negative behaviour of boys when they engage in gender-based dialogue.

The relationship between the VRU/ the GBV Board, schools, their personal development curriculum, and Ofsted.
Headteachers want this approach to professional development. School leaders have responded well to the prospect of this project. The success of a school's personal development curriculum is not just about highlighting risk, recognising risks, and knowing how to avoid these risks. The personal development curriculum is also about drawing on local context issues and showing how the school’s delivery of lessons promotes a strong culture of personal development. Schools that have engaged in content linked to personal development, equality, diversity, and inclusion issues, as well as issues linked to gender-based violence have been written about positively in their Ofsted inspection. This is because their inspection grade for personal development will cover how well pupils, especially those with SEND, are prepared now for adult life. No headteacher ever delivers any curriculum for Ofsted. Indeed, Ofsted want to report on those areas that matter to parents, especially how well a school prepares a pupil for adult life.
The overall grade includes other factors such as careers and advice guidance, compliance with the Baker Clause and how well-prepared pupils are for the next stage in their education, employment, or training. There are strong examples of how VRU funded work in addressing concerns about knife crime has enabled schools to engage pupils to be responsible, aware of their surroundings and others and able to make good choices.

The Deputy Mayor agrees a funding allocation of £246,300 to commission a Partner to co-ordinate an 18-month project that will involve a minimum of four primary / secondary schools across GM and in order to develop a transferrable curriculum that will address prevention of Gender Based Violence.