Knife crime continued a downward trend in 2025, with offences down by 9% on the year prior and pre-Covid levels, according to data published by the Office for National Statistics, external in January.
While urban areas have long seen more instances of knife crime, some research, external suggests it has become more of a widespread issue over time.
The Safety In and Around Schools Partnership will train school leaders on the risk of knife crime and develop “local solutions to improve pupil safety and prevent serious violence”.
More intensive and tailored support will be provided to around 50 of the 250 schools, the government said.
New hyper-local mapping technology, developed by the Home Office, will also apparently pinpoint knife-crime hotspots down to the nearest 10 sqm (107.6 sq ft).
It says this technology will allow police to identify where knife crime is highest, particularly when children are commuting to school, and will help determine which schools could benefit the most from help.
The partnership is being run by charity the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF), which works to prevent violence among young people, and is supported by the Department for Education, the Ministry of Justice and Home Office.
YEF told the BBC it will be delivered in phases beginning with “early engagement” this school year, before “more intensive support” in the coming academic year.
Children and their experiences will be at the core of the work, YEF said, with the view of helping schools to understand where and when pupils feel safe.
A specialist school self-assessment tool, external will also be used as part of the training programme, it added.