Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSiE) 2026 adds further significant and interrelated obligations for schools, bringing it in line with the Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) 2025 statutory guidance. Both must be implemented by schools from 1 September 2026.

KCSiE 2026 is clear that dismissing sexist or misogynistic behaviour between children as ‘banter’, ‘just having a laugh’ or ‘boys being boys’ (statements that we are all familiar with) creates a culture that normalises abuse and discourages victims from coming forward.

Where misogyny now appears across the guidance

This framing with specific reference to misogyny now appears across multiple parts of the document, from child-on-child abuse to the requirements for child protection policies. This goes beyond RSHE curriculum content - it also speaks to the school’s culture.

Misogyny is now listed as a specific online content risk, alongside pornography, radicalisation, and extremism. Schools must also factor it into their Public Sector Equality Duty obligations, ensuring it is considered when developing policies and making significant decisions.

Misogyny as a safeguarding imperative

Critically, the guidance recognises that misogyny sits on a continuum. Left unchallenged, it can escalate to sexual harassment and sexual violence. Early identification and intervention are therefore presented not merely as good practice, but as a safeguarding imperative. 

When addressing perpetrators, schools are also reminded that tackling underlying misogynistic attitudes can help prevent future harmful or abusive behaviour.

What schools need to do before September 2026

1. Review and update your child protection policy to include explicit zero-tolerance statements on misogyny and misandry, ensuring the policy reflects the new KCSIE 2026 requirements on harmful sexual behaviour. (See more on this in our other articles).
2. Audit your RSHE curriculum and policy to ensure they address misogynistic online content including deepfakes, pornography, and misogynistic influencers at an age-appropriate stage, as part of a whole-school preventative education approach.
3. Train all staff to recognise misogynistic behaviour and challenge it robustly, rather than minimising it, understanding that early intervention can prevent escalation to more serious forms of abuse.

Further support

Our team is here to help. We offer a range of safeguarding services and support, including:

• Statutory HR and education policies for academy trusts.  
• Safeguarding training for governors and trustees.
• Trust directors of safeguarding CPD course.
• Child protection and safeguarding in education.