Message to the PM: boys need fathers not fictional dramas!

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You can’t have missed the Prime Minister talking about a Netflix fictional drama, Adolescence, which he wants all secondary school children in the UK to watch. Joining me to examine the serious implications of this concerning policy is Professor David Paton, an industrial economist from the University of Nottingham – an actual expert rather than a fictional TV character.

Professor Paton is known for his rigorous analysis of Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) policies and their unintended consequences. Hear his concerning assessment of the PM’s actions in our 12-minute interview here.

Professor Paton strongly criticises the Government’s reliance on this fictional drama as a basis for educational policy, particularly given that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has repeatedly and incorrectly referred to it as a “documentary”. He underlines the clear inappropriateness of exposing pupils as young as eleven to a 15-rated drama depicting graphic violence and the normalisation of sexual activity among underage 13-year-olds. Alarmingly, even the psychologist character in the series does not challenge the portrayal of ‘normal’ sexual activity among minors, significantly undermining crucial discussions about the legal age of consent.

Prof. Paton also raises serious questions about the timing and intent behind this policy. He warns it may serve as a “Trojan Horse” to further agendas promoted by organisations like Tender, which push comprehensive sex education materials that consistently downplay or neglect traditional family structures and promote radical gender ideology.

He also referenced a recent Family Education Trust report, which estimates that nearly one-third of English secondary schools teach boys that their masculinity is inherently problematic or toxic. Such damaging narratives alienate boys further, potentially driving them towards negative online influences. Professor Paton emphasises that young men do indeed require positive role models – but society already possesses the most effective blueprint available: involved fathers.

Furthermore, Paton highlights the stark correlation between fatherlessness and negative outcomes for children – also covered in a recent article by Suzanne Moore. Shockingly, 76% of young men in prisons in England and Wales come from fatherless homes. Currently, one in four children in the UK grows up without a father present, with 85% of single-parent households headed by mothers. Clearly, the solution lies in strengthening stable, intact families, something best achieved through the institution of real marriage.

But the PM sidesteps this obvious solution with not a single reference.

At C4M, we passionately advocate for the vital role that real marriage plays in supporting strong, stable families. Simply hoping for more male role models in schools or sports won’t cut it. We urge the Government to actively implement policies that encourage father involvement and family cohesion – recognising marriage as the most robust, evidence-based approach to achieving these essential societal outcomes. We know it works, the PM knows it works. Why won’t he advocate for evidence-based reality instead of fictional drama?