sexual abuse | Schools Week

Ofsted snubs calls for annual safeguarding audits

Yvette Stanley, national director for social care at Ofsted, said safeguarding could not be separated from the “culture and leadership” of schools

Revised safety and sexual harassment guidance: 8 things you need to know

The government has issued beefed-up guidance on tackling sexual misconduct in schools, warning downplaying it as “banter” can normalise abuse and “over-friendly” staff should be reported. The Department for Education has published a draft of revised statutory guidance on keeping children safe in education, with more than 60 updates to the previous version released only […]

An inset day on sexual abuse ‘won’t cut it’, says Spielman

Amanda Spielman has warned schools that a one-off safeguarding inset day alone “won’t cut it” as the sector looks to address sexual abuse and harassment among pupils. In response to Ofsted’s review of sex abuse in schools, the Department for Education pledged to “encourage” schools to include relationship, health and sex education curriculum and safeguarding […]

Consent workshops and reviews: schools respond to sex abuse claims

A school named on the Everyone’s Invited website, set up to tackle rape culture, is to run compulsory “consent workshops” for pupils as young as 11, while others form staff working groups to review abuse. The avalanche of sexual abuse allegations has also pushed other schools, not named on the website, to take stock of […]

Williamson plans behaviour survey and urges ‘sensible debate’ over exclusions

Schools will take part in a new survey on student behaviour every term, the education secretary has announced. Gavin Williamson outlined the proposals as part of a wider drive for “strong behaviour and discipline policy,” including the behaviour hubs project and a crackdown on mobile phone use in schools. The minister also called for “proper […]

Ofsted to visit ‘sample’ of schools where sexual abuse has been reported

Ofsted’s review of sexual abuse in schools will see the watchdog visit a “sample of schools and colleges” where abuse and violence cases have been highlighted. The review itself will “not report on individual schools or cases”, but identification of “serious and widespread” failures in safeguarding arrangements will lead to an immediate full inspection. Ofsted […]

Ministers accused of dragging feet over school sex abuse

Ministers have been accused of ignoring repeated warnings over sex abuse in schools before being “shamed” into action this week. The Department for Education has ordered Ofsted to investigate safeguarding in state and independent schools after thousands of sexual abuse and harassment allegations were posted on a ‘rape culture’ website. But ministers now stand accused […]