In April 2021, the Department for Education asked Ofsted to carry out a rapid review of sexual abuse in schools and colleges in England1. This included looking at peer-on-peer sexual harassment, sexual violence and online sexual abuse.
Our briefing summarises findings from the review around:
- the scale and nature of sexual abuse in schools
- how the current safeguarding system listens to the voices of children and young people
- schools’ understanding and response to sexual abuse
- Ofsted’s recommendations for schools, colleges, partner agencies and the government.
The review points out that - due to the prevalence of sexual harassment and online sexual abuse - schools, colleges and multi-agency partners should act as though it is happening to children and young people in their care, even when there are no specific reports.
