Netflix’s Adolescence in schools

Just about everybody’s talking about it, or is aware of the heated debate over whether it is appropriate for the Netflix series Adolescence to be shown in schools, to tackle online misogynistic attitudes. The show has been a massive success and within just 11 days in March, became the most-watched UK series ever on Netflix, with over 66k views.

The four-part series stars Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller, a father whose family is shattered after his 13-year-old son Jamie is accused of murdering a female classmate. The series was thought-provoking, shocking and upsetting for many parents, including myself – I have two sons who are 11 and 8, and it is horrifying to imagine this situation. The most frightening thing is the idea of not knowing what your children are accessing online, and what thoughts and beliefs they have as a result.
Misogyny, described by the Cambridge Dictionary as feelings of hating women, or the belief that men are much better than women, has been spoken about more in recent years. This is in line with the rise of sexist online influencers, and the “incel” or “involuntary celibate” online movement, which discusses the anger and resentment they have towards women and the men they are attracted to.

For generations, parents might have been worried about the influence of friends, music and TV on their children. Now with smartphones, YouTube and social media, many are listening to influencers. But as someone who has worked with domestic abuse charities over the past two decades and has seen horrific examples of abuse, I can guarantee that misogyny did not start on social media – far from it. Influencers such as Andrew Tate and others who admit sexist and harmful attitudes is an issue, as is the easy availability of violent and degrading pornography online, but the attitudes themselves are as old as time. Domestic abuse certainly existed long before smartphones.

However, smartphones and the online world, whether gaming or scrolling through chatrooms looking for a connection, can be all-consuming. The wider effects of being constantly online on the mental health of young people is huge, and one that is an issue many parents are concerned about.

So, can the combination of the digital world and misogyny be solved by showing Adolescence in schools? Put bluntly, no. As UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says himself, it cannot be a “silver bullet”, but there is a role for storytelling and discussions to play in challenging harmful online narratives that young people believe and repeat. The drama education charity Tender that works with young people to promote healthy relationships is involved in providing support with bringing the show into schools, but it is important that teachers are given training and support to hold what could be very difficult conversations in classroom, and signpost those who need help. Teachers will also need to address what is missing in the series, which is the perspective of the girl and her family and friends – and the impact of her death.

It is also an issue for many survivors of abuse that a programme that is being presented as challenging misogyny has Brad Pitt as an Executive Director, who has had a number of serious allegations of domestic abuse made against him and whose children were reported to be frightened of him.

Ultimately, misogyny and the role of online influencers is not an issue for young people to solve after watching a programme being shown in school, it is not realistic – their safety, well-being and happiness is the responsibility of adults and our communities.

However, smartphones and the online world, whether gaming or scrolling through chatrooms looking for a connection, can be all-consuming. The wider effects of being constantly online on the mental health of young people is huge, and one that is an issue many parents are concerned about.

So, can the combination of the digital world and misogyny be solved by showing Adolescence in schools? Put bluntly, no. As UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says himself, it cannot be a “silver bullet”, but there is a role for storytelling and discussions to play in challenging harmful online narratives that young people believe and repeat. The drama education charity Tender that works with young people to promote healthy relationships is involved in providing support with bringing the show into schools, but it is important that teachers are given training and support to hold what could be very difficult conversations in classroom, and signpost those who need help. Teachers will also need to address what is missing in the series, which is the perspective of the girl and her family and friends – and the impact of her death.

It is also an issue for many survivors of abuse that a programme that is being presented as challenging misogyny has Brad Pitt as an Executive Director, who has had a number of serious allegations of domestic abuse made against him and whose children were reported to be frightened of him.

Ultimately, misogyny and the role of online influencers is not an issue for young people to solve after watching a programme being shown in school, it is not realistic – their safety, well-being and happiness is the responsibility of adults and our communities.

What is the solution?

We might not have a magic wand, but there is plenty we can do. Most importantly we need to invest in our young people, with our time, and with our resources, and make sure they have role models in their lives. For boys like Jamie in Adolescence, male role models are crucial, to look up to, to listen to them and provide real-life guidance. We should never assume that everyone has the same family set-up, or same level of support at home – there is a real need for community support. There are brilliant 21st century youth clubs called Youth Zones across the country, established by the national charity OnSide, which provide affordable spaces for children and young people – just 50p a night – to do loads of different activities and spend time with youth workers who are closer to their ages than their parents. Youth work and spaces like these need investment, as they can positively engage with young people in the time they spend outside of school and transform their lives for the better.

And parents need supportive spaces too – the BROOD community and the events such as BROOD Live help by creating a place where parents who are juggling busy working lives with parenthood can be honest about their challenges, support each other and not be afraid to bring their “real selves” to events. The value of being able to say you’re not perfect also shows your kids they are not failures if they don’t get everything right, and you can try again. So many young people are frightened of failure, so we can show them they don’t need to be afraid. (And in the case of Brood Live, we show how you can mess up, laugh about it together, then move on!)

One thing I also try to do with my husband Adam is to try and keep our boys busy with things that are more interesting than phones or Fortnite – and I don’t mind admitting this isn’t always the easiest when they don’t want to move from the sofa. But getting passes for theme parks for the weekends, visiting castles and getting a family season ticket for Bristol City – and this year for both the men’s and the women’s teams – means that there are plenty of things going on in our lives which don’t involve looking down at a phone.
I think a young person making the choice to put a phone down because offline life is more interesting, is much more powerful than having it taken away. We might not be able to solve everything, but we can create a better future by supporting positive role models and being role models ourselves to our kids.

Finally, thinking about how we act, and not spending our lives looking down at our phones ourselves, as we are the biggest influence on our children’s lives, not Netflix. We can’t expect our children to not be consumed online if that is all they see from us, so be present, take a photo for Instagram by all means, but then get on with enjoying life and hopefully our kids will too.

Teresa Parker is a PR and communications specialist in women’s equality, with over 20 years’ experience of working for a national domestic abuse charity as the lead for communications and marketing. Teresa is the founder of Teresa Parker Media and is Associate Director for charity PR agency Cause Communications. 

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“Cici was gone within three hours.!”

– Danielle Nicholls

“I had 12 hours to live!”

– Sophie Austin

Recognising the Symptoms

Early detection is crucial. Symptoms of maternal sepsis can include:

• Fever or chills
• Rapid breathing or heart rate
• Confusion or disorientation
• Extreme pain or discomfort
• uncontrollable shivering or rigours
• Passing little or no urine
• Cold or blotchy arms and legs

These symptoms can be mistaken for normal postpartum recovery, making awareness vital.

Danielle Nicholls: “Cici was gone within three hours.”

TV presenter Danielle Nicholls & Football Manager & Former Footballer Dean Holden tragically lost their 17-month-old daughter, Cici Holden, to suspected meningococcal septicaemia that rapidly developed into sepsis.

“She was gone so fast. We didn’t have time to understand what was happening.” – Danielle said

Cici’s condition deteriorated in just three hours. Danielle is now on a mission to raise awareness about how fast sepsis can take hold — and how vital it is for parents to trust their instincts and demand action.

Danielle’s Key Messages:

• Sepsis in children can progress rapidly — within hours.
• Trust your gut as a parent — you know when something isn’t right.
• Don’t be afraid to speak up if you feel you’re not being listened to.
• Awareness saves lives — knowing the signs makes all the difference

You can read Danielle & Dean’s Full interview ‘Against All Odds’ with BROOD Magazine here. 

Sophie Austin: “I had 12 hours to live.”

Actress and mum-of-two Sophie Austin developed sepsis following emergency gallbladder surgery. After being discharged from hospital, she began experiencing flu-like symptoms, fatigue, chills — and then her condition declined rapidly.

“I was freezing cold in the middle of summer, wearing a hoodie and joggers, and just wanted to sleep.”

Sophie’s family noticed her skin becoming mottled and rushed her to hospital. Doctors told her she likely had just 12 hours left without treatment.

Sophie’s Symptoms:

• High fever and chills
• Extreme fatigue and confusion
• No urine output
• Mottled skin
• Rapid progression over just a few hours

   

Sophie’s Advice:

• Sepsis can strike anyone — after surgery, childbirth, or even a minor cut.
• Watch for flu-like symptoms that get worse quickly.
• Be vigilant if your child or loved one is recovering and “just doesn’t seem right.”

Always consider sepsis when symptoms don’t make sense, seem unusually severe or are deteriorating rapidly  — especially in children.

You can read Sophie & Shayne’s Full interview with BROOD Magazine here. 

Dr Andrew Conway Morris: “Symptoms often overlap with those of other common illnesses, which makes sepsis incredibly difficult to diagnose.”

Expert Insight: Dr Andrew Conway Morris, Charity Medical Director

Dr Andrew Conway Morris explains why sepsis is still such a major threat:

“Although sepsis has been recognised by doctors for thousands of years, it remains incredibly poorly understood. The paradox at the heart of sepsis is that the patient’s own defences turn against the body even as they try to clear the infection that started the process.”

Despite its scale, sepsis research is still underfunded:

“Sepsis kills over 250,000 people in the UK each year — more than breast, bowel and prostate cancer combined — yet it receives far less research funding.”

He stresses that public awareness is vital:

“Symptoms often overlap with those of other common illnesses, which makes sepsis incredibly difficult to diagnose.”

“That’s why it’s so crucial for individuals to be aware of the signs and to seek medical help immediately if they feel unwell — even if they’ve already sought care and been sent home.”

Sepsis: Know the Signs

Sepsis symptoms can appear differently depending on age and situation — but early recognition is critical.

⚠️ Common Signs of Sepsis:

• Very high or very low temperature
• Uncontrollable shivering or cold extremities
• Slurred speech or confusion
• No urine passed in 24 hours
• Breathlessness
• Mottled, pale, or discoloured skin
• Feeling very unwell or like “you’re going to die”

Act Fast. Save a Life.

If you or someone you know is showing signs of sepsis, go to A&E immediately or call 999. Sepsis is treatable — but only if caught early.

Sepsis Research FEAT: Leading the Fight Against Sepsis

Sepsis Research FEAT is the UK’s only charity dedicated to funding research and raising awareness about sepsis, with a particular focus on maternal sepsis. Their initiatives include:

• Funding groundbreaking research into sepsis detection and treatment
• Raising public awareness about sepsis symptoms and risks
• Providing resources and support for those affected

One of their key campaigns, “Mums Matter Too,” aims to ensure more families are aware of maternal sepsis and its risks. You can get more information about the work they do here.

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Raise awareness by sharing these real stories and expert insights. You could help save a life.

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When you look at the current focus on fining parents who take their children out of school for holidays, you’d think that was the main reason why there is an issue with school attendance levels. However, the latest report from the Institute of for Public Policy Research (IPPR) reveals a very different picture.

School attendance is at a crisis level, but the key issue is not a cheaper couple of days at Center Parcs, but the very serious issue educational settings not being able to meet children’s needs be that for children with SEN needs, or the who are experiencing bullying and experiencing anxiety, especially post-Covid and the experience of lockdowns on children and young people.

This important report from the IPPR and The Difference today sets out a plan to end the rapid rise in absence, exclusions and the special educational needs crisis that all drive lost learning. Five years on from schools going into lockdown, the report has brought together more than 100 teachers, leaders, students, parent groups and charities to pinpoint the root causes of lost learning, and to find solutions.

Reading the report it couldn’t have been more fitting as yesterday, just like many parents throughout the UK, Lolo couldn’t take her 5 year old autistic son to school because he was distressed and over stimulated, and it wouldn’t have been fair on them, him or us to take him into school knowing that they didn’t have the facilities or staff to help him. Last week he was in school for less than hour before we had to collect him again. Some weeks he copes really well, and others are a real struggle and this is a child who has had an autism diagnosis at 4, ECHP since October term of starting in Reception, funding for a 1:1 and who goes to an outstanding primary school. A specialist school is listed on his EHCP, but who knows how long it will before he is actually moved to that setting.

Lolo’s son is non-speaking at present, and as a parent it is heartbreaking to know how crucial early intervention is for children with SEN needs, but to not have any access to such facilities. I dread to think of what the families who have children waiting years for diagnosis and ECHPs feel and experience. With two older children aged 12 and 13, one of whom also has SEN needs, I’ve seen first-hand the rapid decline in support in schools and the lack of funding and support from the local authority; you can feel the frustration from the teachers too.

Maybe instead of the local authorities concentrating so much of their admin time into fining parents – who most of the time are hard working parents who just want to give their children life-enhancing experiences, spend quality family time together and simply require more flexibility as to when the can take them on holiday as more and more families have both sets of parents working, and – and let’s focus the extra time and energy into solving the real problems as to why our children are not in school. It’s always one of the first topics of conversation when I meet another other SEN parent.

Also, look at the very real issue of bullying and subsequent anxiety for young people, who are experiencing intimidating behaviour in the classroom that they cannot escape from, as it follows them online and across social media platforms into the evenings and weekends. Even if we take their phones away, they can feel anxiety thinking about what is being posted and said about them when they are offline.

We cannot accept the narrative that a skiing trip is a beneficial cultural and social experience when put on by a school, but irresponsible when part of a family trip. We need to acknowledge how much more expensive holidays are in school holidays, and how much the cost of living has risen for everyone – it is harder than ever raising a family.

If we care about our children’s education, we can support parents to ensure there is consistent learning during term-times including remote learning where needed, and build trusted relationships between families and schools. By blaming parents for absenteeism when the actual issue is that many children’s needs are not being met and there are many children that have dropped out of the education system post-Covid, this approach is not going to improve attendance levels in a meaningful way.

Children and young people need schools to be safe places, where they can have an enjoyable education and they are not fearful of going to school. Let’s focus on this and deal with actual problems we have, rather than blaming parents who are trying to give their children a balanced, happy life, that can include the occasional affordable holiday with their family.

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