Sunderland domestic abuse charity rejects plans for Netflix’s ‘Adolescence’ to be shown in schools
Written by Finlay Anderson on 1st May 2025
A Sunderland domestic abuse charity have voiced their concerns about the “potential challenges” showing Netflix drama ‘Adolescence’ in schools will bring.
Wearside Women in Need, a domestic abuse charity providing services to people in Sunderland, have urged the need for “sufficient funding for specialist services” to help deliver the education of issues such as online misogyny and sexism – topics the series brought to light.
Netflix announced that the show, that saw a 13-year-old boy being charged for the murder of a female classmate, would be available to all UK secondary schools through the Into Film+ streaming service.
Netflix Adolescence Billboard. Photo by Barry King/Alamy Stock Photo
A spokesperson for the charity said: “Whilst we are pleased to see that the show, Adolescence, has successfully sparked important conversations around this topic, we do not support its use in schools.
“The programme was not created as an educational resource, and we are concerned about the potential challenges it may pose for teachers and students, particularly when navigating such a sensitive and complex subject without adequate support.
“However, this does underline the pressing need for sufficient funding for specialist services to deliver well-informed, age-appropriate education that tackles the underlying issues causing violence against women and girls in increasingly younger age groups.
“Without meaningful culture change, a more robust education system and stronger regulations of social media companies, children and young people will continue to rely on social media for their understanding of these issues, a concerning trend that the show powerfully highlighted.”
However, Sharon Hodgson, MP for Washington and Gateshead South, has approved the plans, and reiterated how important “education and awareness on these issues” are.
She said: “Netflix’s ‘Adolescence’ should be shown in schools to our young people, alongside a guided age-appropriate discussion around what it means and the key points within the show to encourage education and awareness on these issues.
“We must not be reactive but rather proactive and education is key to this.
“The issues covered in the show are very important; highlighting how violent influences can shape young men’s mind and perpetuate misogyny and are very applicable to today’s society with the internet and social media a constant in our kids’ lives, which are things that just didn’t exist when I was in school.”
For more information and local support, visit https://www.wwin.org.uk/
