Wales: sexual harassment in schools is a widespread problem as number of allegations rise

Background

  • Peer-on-peer sexual harassment is a problem in schools across Wales
  • Last term, England saw sexual harassment become “normalized” among school children (see review)

Issue at hand

  • Head teacher of Wales school believes that there is “a culture among some pupils” that does not know where the line between a joke and what is sexually appropriate and causes distress is
  • Social media and the proliferation of indecent images have become one of the biggest issues
    • More than 300 offences involving sexual communications with children between April 2020 and March 2021
  • Girls as young as 11 said to be pressured into sending nudes or receive unwanted images from boys
  • “Awful” amount of volume of testimonies poste by girls in Wales, many of whom have not spoken to police officers

Responses

  • Welsh government said the safety of children was a priority
  • Welsh government asked Estyn to review the culture and processes at secondary schools, to protect and support young people
    • report due to be published in December
    • Welsh government planned to act immediately on any recommendations by report
  • Welsh police working with schools and young people to help potential victims and “break down barriers” and is investigating two cases
  • Anonymous website Everyone’s Invited set up to help students anonymously report abuse and harassment by classmates

 

 

 

school
Source
Countries this relates to
Language of materials

Childhub

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