Gender-based violence prevention and response
This resource supports schools to engage with complementary programmes and tools that help prevent and respond to gender-based violence. It maps programmes and resources against the elements of the Scottish Government’s Preventing and Responding to Gender-based Violence: A Whole School Framework.
Two national programmes, Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) and Equally Safe at School (ESAS), are highlighted. While they take different approaches to prevention, they can complement one another.
This resource can be used by educators working with learners of all ages. It may be further supported by wider initiatives not specific to gender-based violence prevention, such as Rights Respecting Schools.
Additional relevant tools are also mapped, alongside case studies from settings that have successfully delivered both ESAS and MVP. This includes a resource demonstrating how the programmes link and apply in practice.
Equally safe at school: third level to senior phase
This resource includes:
- what is GBV and who is affected (equallysafeatschool.org)
- the impacts of GBV
Time required: varies by school - minimal to read and consider info
Staff requirement: most relevant for pastoral care
Mentors in violence prevention: third level to senior phase
Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) practitioner training
Time required: 2 days or 4 twilight sessions, 1 day for building capacity
Staff requirement: minimum of 4 staff, including 1 member from senior leadership team
Gender based violence early intervention practitioner training: early to second level
GBV early intervention practitioner training. The link to this resource will be added soon.
Time required: 4 twilight sessions over three months
Staff requirement: 1 or 2 staff with capacity to cascade learning
Equally safe at school: third level to senior phase
This resource includes:
- What is ESAS? (equallysafeatschool.org)
- leadership roles (equallysafeatschool.org)
- Get Involved (equallysafeatschool.org)
Time required: minimal time needed to read and consider information
Staff requirement: most relevant for senior leadership representatives
Equally safe at school: third level to senior phase
My ESAS (login needed) includes:
- information for students, staff, parents and carers
- an assembly presentation that can be adapted in length
- templates and guidance to support staff-student action groups (including recruitment, facilitation and action-planning)
- information about engaging boys and young men
Time requirement:
- 1 to 2 hours to set up groups
- 1 hour to deliver each group
- 1 to 3 hours to write up findings, depending on the number of groups
Staff requirement: minimum of 1 setting lead
Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP): third level to senior phase
Mentors in Violence Prevention includes:
- information on establishing MVP in education settings
- resources on engaging boys and men
- session plans and presentations
Time requirement:
- MVP mentor training presentations and manual: 2 days can be flexible
- MVP practitioner training: 2 days for new schools and 1 day for capacity building
Staff requirement: minimum of 1 school lead with staff team of 4
Keeping your cool in school: early to second level
The Keeping your cool in school programme aims to:
- help children recognise and discuss their feelings about themselves and others
- equip children with the attitudes and skills they need to thrive in a changing society
- encourage parents and staff to work together to teach children respect for themselves and one another
Equally safe at school: third level to senior phase
This resource includes:
- information about supporting young survivors (equallysafeatschool.org)
- information for parents and carers (equallysafeatschool.org)
- Information about support services (equallysafeatschool.org)
Time required: minimal to read and consider info
Staff requirement: most relevant for pastoral care
Domestic abuse guidance: early level to senior phase
Self-directed professional learning within the Inclusion wellbeing and equalities (IWE) framework.
Time requirement: practitioners can complete learning at their own pace.
The safeguarding series: early to senior phase
The safeguarding series includes includes information for practitioners about:
- child sexual abuse
- child sexual exploitation
- female genital mutilation
Time requirement: practitioners can complete learning at their own pace.
Equally safe at school: third level to senior phase
My ESAS (login needed) includes:
- staff and student surveys for monitoring and evaluation
- data collection resources for self-assessment
- focus group materials for staff and students to identify issues
Time requirement:
- student and staff surveys take 10 minutes
- 1 to 2 hours to set up groups
- 1 hour to deliver each group
- 1 to 3 hours to write up findings, depending on number of groups
Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP): third level to senior phase
Mentors in Violence Prevention includes:
- pre and post surveys for professional learning
- pre and post mentor and mentee surveys
- local authority co-ordinator and practitioner surveys looking at reach, challenges, and impact of the programme
Time requirement: average survey completion time is 5 to 10 minutes
Equally safe at school: third level to senior phase
Staff experiences of GBV (equallysafeatschool.org) includes:
-
information about how staff may be affected
-
links to research for supporting staff, employer duties and guidance
Time required: minimal to read and consider info
Staff requirement: most relevant for school leadership
My ESAS staff training: third level to senior phase
My ESAS (login needed) includes:
- an e-module for all staff about GBV and embedding a whole school approach
- free enhanced staff training delivered by local Rape Crisis centres on the support needs of young survivors
E-module time required: 45 to 50 minutes
Staff required: recommended for all staff
Enhanced training time required: half-day
Staff required: all relevant staff
Mentors in violence prevention staff training: third level to senior phase
Mentors in violence prevention (MVP) offers:
- MVP staff training (1 or 2 day required to deliver mentor
- training)MVP Train the Trainer
- opportunities to attend trainer network meetings
Time required: 2 days training to become an MVP staff trainer.
Gender-based violence early intervention: early to second level
Early intervention practitioner training.
Time required: 4 twilight sessions over 3 months
Staff required: 2 relevant staff with capacity to cascade learning
Inclusion Wellbeing and Equalities Framework: early level to senior phase
The Inclusion Wellbeing and Equalities Framework provides self-directed professional learning courses to support professional learning on relevant themes across the whole setting.
Time required: each topic can be delivered or completed within 1 hour.
Staff required: all staff
Time for inclusive education (TIE) digital discourse initiative: early level to senior phase
The Digital Discourse Initiative provides self-directed e-learning for practitioners around social media, online disinformation and tools to respond to behaviours influenced by online content.
Time required: 4 hours
Staff required: all staff
Equalities Policy Guide and practitioner network: early level to senior phase
- supports settings through the process of developing equalities policy.
- can support ESAS and MVP in your setting
Time required: follow the guide over the course of 1 academic year.
Staff required: 1 member or staff to lead, and sign off from senior leadership team (SLT)
My ESAS policy development: third level to senior phase
You can access policy development support in My ESAS after signing to the programme. This can be used in conjunction with the Equalities policy guide.
Schools may choose to adopt a new gender-based violence (GBV) policy or integrate GBV into current policies.
Time required: 1 hour initial review time, plus wider engagement and subsequent redrafting.
Staff required: most useful for senior leadership team
Equally safe at school teaching: third level to senior phase
My ESAS teaching (login needed) links to other relevant curricular programmes including the Rape Crisis Scotland National Sexual Violence Prevention Programme
Mentors in Violence Prevention: third level to senior phase
Mentors in Violence Prevention includes:
- information on establishing MVP in education settings
- resources on engaging boys and men
Time required:
- 2 days practitioner training for new schools
- 1 day for capacity building
Staff required: minimum of 1 MVP lead
MVP peer education programme: third level to senior phase
The peer education programme is:
- delivered by senior mentors
- part of the PSE curriculum
- aligns with curricular links to social justice
- can be accredited
- often delivered in S1 and S2 social subjects
Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood: early level to senior phase
- Early Level (rshp.scot)
- First Level (rshp.scot)
- Second level (rshp.scot)
- Third and fourth level (rshp.scot)
- Senior phase (rshp.scot)
Equally safe at school: third level to senior phase
This resource includes:
- information on supporting young survivors
- information about support services
Time required: minimal time needed to read and consider information.
Staff required: most relevant for pastoral care staff
Keeping Trauma in Mind: early level to senior phase
Programme of professional learning to help achieve trauma informed practice.
Time required: Six 2-hour sessions which can be delivered face-to-face or virtually.
