Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, has said that while schools have a "vital responsibility" in tackling sexual harassment and abuse, parents, social media companies and the criminal justice system also have a role to play in addressing the issue. By Emma Yeomans, Ben Ellery, Arthi Nachiappan and Ryan Watts, The Times.
Tes reports independent school sector figures have said it is not necessary for all independent schools to be inspected by Ofsted. By Catherine Lough. The article quotes Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), Dr Simon Hyde, general secretary of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC), and Rudolf Eliott Lockhart, chief executive of the Independent Schools Association (ISA).
According to The Guardian, Amanda Spielman, Ofsted's chief inspector, requested greater powers to monitor independent schools in 2018 and 2019 over "potential safeguarding issues". By Richard Adams and Sally Weale.
Nazir Afzal, the former chief prosecutor for north-west England, has questioned whether Ofsted is best placed to conduct a "deep dive" investigation, claiming the body does not 'appear to have picked up' issues relating to sexual misconduct despite years of inspections. The Telegraph.
Giving evidence at the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, Jonathan Anderson, headmaster at Merchiston Castle School, said it was "unfair to single out boys' schools" as having a "predatory culture". By Laura Paterson, The Times.
iNews reports on some of the measures schools are taking to tackle peer-on-peer sexual harassment. By Sally Guyoncourt. The article quotes the heads of several schools in membership of the ISC's constituent associations.
Some schools are planning to make curriculum and policy changes in the wake of the death of Sarah Everard and allegations of a 'rape culture' in schools. Tes. The article quotes Julie Keller, head of Nottingham Girls' High School, and Jane Prescott, president of the Girls' Schools Association (GSA) and headmistress of Portsmouth High School.
Speaking to The Guardian, some school leaders describe the complexities and challenges of navigating sexual abuse and harassment allegations. By Sally Weale.
Maria Miller, a Conservative MP and former chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee, has said she was sexually assaulted while at school, adding: "It was a routine part of life." By Maya Oppenheim, The Independent.
Robert Halfon, chair of the Education Select Committee, has said social media companies should put algorithms in place to monitor online threats and abusive language. By Ruchira Sharma, iNews.
Alice Thomson writes in The Times arguing "demonising all boys isn't the answer", and that parents and schools need to talk to children about consent and loving relationships while they are young.
Writing in The Telegraph, Pravina Rudra challenges the idea that a return to single-sex schools could stop sexual abuse and harassment.
An editorial piece in The Guardian states testimonies shared to the Everyone's Invited website "must serve as a wake-up call for specific schools and society as a whole".
According to The Telegraph, a number of testimonies about primary schools have been published to the Everyone's Invited website. By Camilla Turner and Claudia Rowan.
The Independent reports university students across the country are protesting against sexual harassment and violence on campus. By Zoe Tidman and Darcey Edkins.