Primary faculties need assistance tackling ‘widespread’ pupil-on-pupil intercourse abuse blamed on porn, charities warn

Schools must be given clearer guidance on how to deal with sexual abuse by pupils on pupils, which is ‘so widespread as to be normalised,’ women’s charities have demanded.

School sexual violence and abuse is even a problem in primary schools, with online pornography identified as a key factor in the worrying issue.

Now several charities, including Rape Crisis, have written to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister, calling on improved statutory guidance for schools on what to do when both victim and perpetrator are pupils.

In 2016 an inquiry by MPs found that 600 rapes had been reported in schools over a three-year period.

It also found that 59 per cent of girls and young women aged 13-21 reported they had faced some form of sexual harassment in school or college the year before.

The letter explains that handling school sexual abuse is ‘exacerbated’ when police don’t charge anyone or when the court process is finished.

Charities warn that ‘schools tend to treat no further action decisions as cause to simply ‘go back to normal.’

Victims can be ‘re-traumatised’ by the school which is ‘responsible for providing safety’ and young boys responsible for the abuse ‘are not provided with appropriate support to manage their behaviour.’

Several have written to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson (pictured) and Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister, calling on improved statutory guidance for schools on pupil-on-pupil sex abuse

School sexual violence and abuse is even a problem in primary schools, with online pornography identified as a key factor in the worrying issue (file image)

In primary schools where children are often under the age of criminal responsibility (age ten) and cannot be prosecuted, ‘schools too often end up categorising serious sexual violence as a form of age-related (sexual) exploration,’ the letter warns.

It adds that with the onus left on parents to give support, some of the ‘very youngest victim-survivors are left unsupported, and schools fail to learn and prevent future incidents from occurring’.

Improved official guidance – currently under review by the Government – is desperately needed, the charities argue.

‘Schools and teachers do not know what effective intervention and/or safeguarding look like in practice because they do not have the appropriate guidance on how to approach peer-on-peer sexual abuse’.

Ciara Bergman, chief executive of Rape Crisis, said: ‘It needs to be made clear that children who have been sexually assaulted or abused at school are entitled to a supportive response from their school, irrespective of any criminal justice processes.’

She added: ‘No form of play should ever be harmful to a child. Dismissing sexual abuse in this way represents a misunderstanding of the nature and impact of peer-on-peer sexual abuse.’

The letter was also signed by the heads of Rights of Women, non-profit Imkaan, the Centre for Women’s Justice and specialist solicitor Andrew Lord.

Mr Lord from law firm Leigh Day said: ‘This is an issue that policymakers have known about for several years now, and yet we are still not fully grappling with how to tackle this in a meaningful way. I continue to hear from families of those impacted by child-on-child abuse on a frequent basis, in schools up and down the country. This issue is not going away any time soon without concrete and bold action.’

Charities warn that ‘schools tend to treat no further action decisions as cause to simply ‘go back to normal’ (file image)

The official guidance for relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) being taught in schools is currently under review following a consultation last summer.

A Department for Education spokesman said: ‘All sexual abuse is abhorrent, and this government is determined to root it out as part of its mission to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.

‘Every pupil should feel safe and protected at school, and it’s essential that any allegations of sexual abuse are dealt with sensitively and properly.

‘We have robust statutory safeguarding guidance in place that schools must follow to keep children safe from abuse and harassment, as well as guidance and support for schools to create strong behaviour expectations, to make clear sexually abusive language or behaviour are never acceptable.’