Women and Equalities Chair reacts to research from the National Education Union and UK Feminista on sexual harassment in schools

Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, Maria Miller MP, said:

“This research echoes the findings of our Committee’s report over a year ago. Without doubt, there is clear evidence that sexual harassment is blighting the lives of girls in our schools. It is worryingly ‘normalised’ and often goes unreported.

“Fourteen months on from our report, schools seem no better placed to tackle the problem than they were then. We made many recommendations and ministers urgently need to review the guidance, support and resources made available and send a clear message to schools that girls’ safety and equality must be prioritised.   

“Government has to take urgent action on this problem. Negative stereotypes, sexist attitudes, expectations about relationships and sexual harassment and violence not only impact on children’s lives, but create problems in later life. This was apparent in our one off session on Women’s Every Day Experiences of Sexism and Sexual Harassment last week.”