Gender-based violence prevention and response: Violence prevention action plans
This example of a Mentors in Violence Prevention and Equally Safe at School action plan (PDF) demonstrates how Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) can be linked to Equally Safe at School (ESAS).
It also provides examples of evidence that can contribute to How good is our school quality indicators.
Resources and templates referenced in the plan can be found on the My ESAS dashboard. Actions from the example plan are outlined below.
Staff and learners
Inform staff and learners about ESAS through letters, presentations and information sessions.
Highlight MVP during ESAS information sessions as part of a whole school approach to preventing gender-based violence (GBV).
Increase visibility through:
- school displays
- 16 Days of Activism
- teaching about inspirational figures
Evidence actions by sharing ESAS presentations and session plans with young people and staff.
This supports how good is our school quality indicators 1.3 and 1.5.
Parents and carers
Inform parents and carers about ESAS and MVP work using letter templates available on the ESAS Dashboard.
Share the MVP parent and carer leaflet or arrange an MVP and ESAS session for families to attend.
Evidence this work by gathering feedback from parents and carers.
This supports how good is our school quality indicator 2.5.
Staff and learner surveys
Complete ESAS learner and staff surveys using resources available on the ESAS Dashboard.
MVP sessions can be adapted to address findings.
Record the percentage of learners and staff completing surveys and arrange MVP sessions to reflect the themes identified in surveys.
This supports how good is our school quality indicator 1.1.
Focus groups
Organise staff and learner focus groups to discuss survey findings.
Adapt MVP sessions to address the findings.
Summarise and share the findings and consider evidence from MVP pre and post evaluations.
This supports how good is our school quality indicators 1.2 and 3.1.
MVP training can complement and enhance the ESAS training.
The MVP support team and mentors can help to deliver staff training. This can contribute to ESAS whole-setting approach.
Record the number of staff who complete the e-learning module to evidence this action.
This supports how good is our school quality indicators 1.2 and 1.3.
Enhanced training
MVP is a peer education and leadership programme where young people take the lead in creating change.
MVP training can complement and enhance ESAS training.
Record the number of staff attending. Save pictures from training, witness statements and post-training evaluations.
This supports how good is our school quality indicator 1.1.
Establish an ESAS Action Group
MVP mentors can help lead an ESAS action group along with staff and partners who have completed MVP training.
Record minutes of meetings, pictures and details of young people accredited for participation.
Download an ESAS certificate from the dashboard to evidence participation.
This supports how good is our school quality indicators 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 and 2.7.
Review survey findings
Review survey findings through the action group and create an action plan to address priorities.
Include MVP mentors in reviewing the findings to make informed decisions and ensure that learner opinion is used to make positive change in school.
Share links to MVP and ESAS on school leaflets and the website. Encourage learners to contribute to designs.
Evaluate action plans through learner surveys and explore knowledge and understanding of ongoing work.
This supports how good is our school quality indicators 1.2, 1.3 and 3.1.
Develop a gender-based violence (GBV) policy and reference gender-based violence within other relevant school policies.
Include MVP in schools policies to support sustainability and gender-based violence prevention.
Learners can lead on communication and implementation.
Policy guide
The Equalities Policy Guide can support:
- ESAS and MVP policy development
- learner engagement
- ongoing policy review
Capture actions and impact in GBV, relational and equalities policies. Include this work in your school improvement plan.
This supports how good is our school quality indicators 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, and 3.1
Embed gender equality across the curriculum.
Where MVP is established, additional staff can complete MVP training to enrich learning and teaching, widen perspectives and build capacity.
This helps ensure that gender equality and the prevention of gender-based violence are embedded consistently across the curriculum.
This can be measured by awareness in classrooms and around the school.
Gather feedback from staff to evaluate confidence.
This supports how good is our school quality indicators 1.1 and 1.3.
Monitor and evaluate progress through staff and learner surveys.
MVP mentors can support the review of findings and help ensure that young people's views inform decision-making and school improvement activity.
School wide surveys can measure attitude change. Evidence could also include:
- minutes of meetings
- pictures
- witness statements
- feedback and evaluations from MVP sessions
- photos and engagement at events
- analysis of school data including disclosures and changes in reported incidents
This supports how good is our school quality indicators 1.2, 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3.
