Safeguarding

Further information for schools on safeguarding can be found here (login required).

Peer on peer abuse – Everyone’s Invited and resources for schools

The testimonies on the Everyone’s Invited website have drawn attention to the issue of peer-on-peer abuse in schools.

The ISC issued a statement acknowledging how seriously schools are taking this issue, explaining they are having meaningful conversations with students, alumni and parents as they look at what further actions they can take; and released a further statement in response to the Government commissioned Ofsted review.

Schools may find the following documents helpful:

Ofsted review

• Ofsted review of sexual abuse in schools and colleges – final report and press release (10 June 2021)
• Ofsted review – ISC press release (10 June 2021)
• Ofsted review – DfE press release (10 June 2021)
• DfE announcement (31 March)
• Ofsted terms of reference (7 April)

Government guidance

• Keeping Children Safe in Education
• DfE guidance - Sexual violence and sexual harassment between children in schools and colleges
• The Government’s Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Strategy
• Sharing nudes and semi-nudes: advice for education settings working with children and young people (DCMS and UK Council for Internet Safety)
• The DfE's non-statutory guidance on mental health and behaviour in schools
• DfE's self-assessment tool on Respectful School Communities
• Welsh Government National Action Plan and resources on preventing and responding to child sexual abuse

Overview of issues

• A note produced by the Safeguarding Unit at Farrer & Co on next steps for schools – 18 March (ISC Member Zone login required)
• Everyone’s Invited: let’s talk – discussion note by Safeguarding Unit at Farrer & Co – 31 March (ISC Member Zone login required)
• VWV update on “Everyone’s Invited” – 9 April (ISC Member Zone login required)

Legal Guides

• Farrer and Co - Developing and implementing a low-level concerns policy: A guide for organisations which work with children
• Farrer & Co Peer-on-Peer Abuse Toolkit

Relationships and sex education (RSE)

• Relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education curriculum and related documents
• The DfE has published a series of teacher training modules with materials on delivering the new RSE curriculum. The latest covers the ‘Being safe’ content and looks at issues around both consent and abuse.
• RSHE implementation guidance from ASCL, NAHT, NEU, the PSHE Association and the Sex Education Forum to support schools with statutory relationships education
• PSHE Association guidance on teaching about pornography
• PSHE Association guidance on teaching about consent

Advice for parents

Harmful Sexual Behaviour Toolkit developed by the Lucy Faithfull Foundation

Resources for tackling online sexual harassment

ASCL and the School of Sexuality Education to produce the following resources:

• Online Sexual Harassment: Comprehensive guidance for schools
• Online Sexual Harassment: School policy
• Online Sexual Harassment: Guidance for students
• RSHE Policy Guide and Template

Other information

• House of Commons, Women and Equalities Committee Sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools (third report of session 2016-17)

Organisations

• Safeguarding and Child Protection Association (sacpa)
• NSPCC Learning
• NSPCC
• NSPCC helpline number (for potential victims of sexual harassment and abuse in education) - 0800 136 663
• Brook - advice and help for young people
• The Rap Project - information for teenagers, parents, and teachers.
• Digital Awareness UK; their work with schools and available resources