London teachers seeking expert help for schoolboys influenced by Andrew Tate’s misogyny

London teachers are increasingly seeking expert help to deal with schoolboys who have been influenced by Andrew Tate.

Experts from The RAP Project, which normally runs workshops about rape, consent and sexual assault for some of London’s top private schools, have been asked to specifically address concerns about the controversial “influencer”.

Tate, 36, has millions of young followers online and promotes an “ultra-masculine” lifestyle. He is currently under investigation in Romania after being arrested on charges of being part of an organised crime group, human trafficking and rape.

Some London schools, including the £20,000-a-year St Dunstan’s College in Catford, have created their own lesson plans to ensure his misogynistic views do not go unchallenged, after parents raised concerns about his influence.

Deana Puccio, a former sex crimes prosecutor from New York, who co-founded The RAP project, said teachers have asked her to directly address the issue of Tate in her school presentations because they are concerned about the behaviour and views of some teenage boys.

She said some boys are blaming women and girls because their own lives are not how they would like them to be.

Five schools initially sought her help in September to talk to students directly about Tate, but now she discusses him in most presentations. She said: “All last term almost every all-boys or co-educational school we were in asked us to specifically address Andrew Tate as an issue. Some schools say he has been influencing boys as young as Year 6.”

She said one school contacted The Rap Project because teachers were alarmed at conversations boys were having on issues such as equal pay for men and women. She added: “Andrew Tate’s influence is legitimising their misogynistic comments and behaviour.” St Dunstan’s has introduced its own special lessons to teach children what is wrong with Tate’s approach to women.

Jonathan Holmes, deputy head academic, said the school plans to talk about Tate with all children in Year 8 and above.

He added: “Some of our parents have been really proactive, asking for us to address his views in our teaching.” Older students will look at transcripts of videos Tate has shared and explore why they are harmful.

Ms Puccio said the best way for schools to deal with the issue is to talk about it rather than “cancelling” Tate.

During her school presentations, she said, there is “lots of laughter and giggles” but when she questions the boys afterwards they become quieter. She said: “I will ask them if they really think their mother is the property of their father… they will say no. If you ask them questions in a very calm, logical way they don’t really have answers.

“If you humiliate or berate them they will become defensive… right now these boys don’t feel heard and that is why Andrew Tate is on the rise… we need to get to the heart of why so many young men find him a role model.”

It comes as the NSPCC on Tuesday called on tech companies to do more to tackle misogynistic hate online.

Rani Govender, its child safety online policy officer, said: “This sexist content is shaping boys’ attitudes and behaviour, causing harm to girls in and out of school and online.”