Call for Self-Defence Education in Schools

Fifteen-year-old Lily-Kim expressed increased confidence after completing a self-defence class at her school in Hull, stating, “I feel a lot more confident walking home tonight,” and adding, “And it shouldn’t be just me, but every girl should feel like that.” She further noted, “Now I know if someone is walking up behind me I can look out for any threat,” and “If someone does come near me, I know how to defend myself.” Data from the National Police Chiefs’ Council indicates a nearly 40% increase in violent crimes targeting women and girls over the last five years. In the previous year alone, more than one million crimes related to violence against women and girls were documented in England and Wales, according to figures released by the organization in July. This surge in crime is a key reason why Lily-Kim and her peers at Kelvin Hall School are advocating for self-defence to be integrated into the national curriculum, similar to swimming. The government, however, maintains that schools possess the autonomy to determine suitable provisions for their students. Matilda, 15, another participant in the classes, commented on the prevalence of crime affecting women, asserting, “There’s a lot of crime revolving around women, so being taught the skills is important for everyday life.” She elaborated, “I think it’s more important than some skills like swimming, because some people never go swimming in their life, but most people walk out on the streets and there’s more chance of being attacked than drowning, I’d say.” Hannah, also 15, added her perspective: “As women, we are only really told to avoid going out at night, whereas I think we should be told how to defend ourselves. “I think this should be taught in schools, because now I feel a lot more confident.” Orjan Pettersen, an instructor from Spartans Academy of Krav Maga who led the session at Kelvin Hall, suggested that self-defence instruction provides benefits beyond physical techniques. He stated, “It also brings psychological and confidence skills and improves self-esteem, knowing that you have the ability to defend yourself and keep yourself safe.” Rachel Hilton, the assistant head teacher at Kelvin Hall and a mother of two young daughters, supports the idea of teaching self-defence lessons within the PE curriculum. She remarked, “We would absolutely love to see this as part of the school curriculum for all young girls to be able to participate in,” and continued, “We want to help create a society where women feel safe, where women are empowered and where men also take responsibility in ensuring that women are safe in a public space.” Hilton concluded, “The female self-defence class fits really importantly within that theme. “This should be rolled out and it should be something which the government can focus on.” Currently, educational institutions like Kelvin Hall must secure funding to conduct regular self-defence classes. Schools that opt to offer these classes are advised to verify that instructors are appropriately qualified and to consider the age and maturity of participants to ensure comprehension that the techniques are to be employed only as a last resort. When questioned about potentially incorporating self-defence classes into the curriculum, the Department for Education (DfE) reiterated that schools have the discretion to choose the physical activities or sports taught in PE. A spokesperson for the DfE stated: “High and rising standards are at the heart of this government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity, and a cutting-edge curriculum is central to this. “Schools have the flexibility to decide what is right for their pupils, including what physical activities or sports they use to teach the PE curriculum.”