LGA responds to Ofsted review of sexual harassment in schools

10 Jun 2021 10:10 AM

Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, responded to an Ofsted review which has found that sexual harassment, including online sexual abuse, has become ‘normalised’ for children and young people in schools 

“Any incidence of sexual harassment or assault is abhorrent. No child should fear going to school, and we must all look carefully at how we can change the attitudes in our society that lead to this behaviour being normalised.

“Keeping children safe is everyone’s responsibility, and local safeguarding partnerships, including councils, health providers and the police along with schools will want to consider carefully the findings and recommendations of this report. 

“Good quality relationships and sex education will be a positive step in ensuring young people understand what healthy relationships look like, and the importance of consent, respect and privacy. With pressure on teaching time following repeated lockdowns, it will be important to ensure time is protected for these important lessons. 

“We also urge further work on how to properly tackle peer-on-peer abuse, and how to ensure designated safeguarding leads feel confident in dealing with instances of sexual abuse and harassment in their schools.”

Read Ofsted’s review of sexual abuse in schools and colleges