Schools have been issued with new guidance on teaching children about the dangers of carrying a knife as part of Government efforts to tackle spiralling levels violence.

The hour-long lessons aim to educate 11 to 16-year-olds about the dangers of social media, the potential impact of carrying a blade and possible strategies to resist peer pressure.

Ministers announced the measure amid mounting concern over violent crime following a spate of fatal stabbings this year.

We asked our readers if they thought that knife prevention classes in school were a good idea and here is what you said:

Jo Elizabeth said: “Dont think this will make any bit of difference without a decent law backing. Then you can go to the schools and say you choose to do this, and this will be your punishment, and the punishment be harsh. They still decide to make that decision, it is on them.”

Tan White: “Think the parents need to erm parent!”

Gary Davenport: “We had sex education classes at school. Still had girls getting pregnant though!”

Stuart Mackrodt said: “Instead of putting that money into the education budget, it Should be put into policing to finance more stop & search.”

John Jgb Bull said: “The fact is rather going down this route of teaching children but instead more policing out there and cutting costs by closing police stations. We are not in the past age where respecting the authorities was the done thing.”

Andrew Crawley said: “Surly if we need to teach our children not to stab each other we must admit our society has failed! How can a child reach the school age of 5 and no it’s not right already! I remember the good old days of just teaching a child how to walk safely with scissors.”

Kara Ann Couchman said: “Probably a waste of time but These kids at that age should know right from wrong.”