Ofsted’s Findings and Recommendations on Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence, including online sexual abuse

Date: Thursday, 08th Jul 2021 | Category: General

Ofsted were asked by the government to review sexual abuse in schools following testimonies posted on the ‘Everyone’s Invited’ Website.

• The review included 32 schools and colleges. Over 900 children and young people were spoken to about the prevalence of peer-on-peer sexual harassment and sexual violence, including online, in their lives and the lives of their peers.
• They also spoke to leaders, teachers, governors, LSPs, parents and stakeholders and reviewed the extent to which inspection has given sufficient oversight of this issue and considered how statutory guidance could be strengthened.
• National statistics show a sharp increase in the reporting of child sexual abuse to the police in recent years. Police recorded over 83,000 child sexual abuse offences (including obscene publications) in the year ending March 2020. An increase of approximately 267% since 2013. Research estimates indicate that approximately one quarter of cases of all child sexual abuse involve a perpetrator under the age of 18.

Read the full report.

The GSCP is developing an action plan with all partners to implement and embed the learning into practice. As part of this, we will be asking our partners the following questions in our Development, Monitoring and Challenge Work Group:

a. Is there a recognition or awareness of normalised sexual behaviour/language within your organisation?
b. What are the barriers to challenging this behaviour in both young people and in colleagues?
c. How can we help children and young people and their parents change the culture around gender stereotypes and the normalisation of this behaviour?
d. How can the GSCP support your agency in changing the culture?