Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT,
said: “The recent reports of sexual harassment and violence we
have seen are shocking and deeply concerning. It is vital that
any incident of sexual harassment or violence is reported so that
it can be investigated, and the appropriate actions taken.
“There is clearly an urgent need to ask ourselves what more we
can all do to prevent sexual harassment and violence now and in
the future. There is no doubt that schools can and should play a
key role in this work, but this is a problem that reaches far
beyond the school gates.
“There is no place for sexual harassment or violence in our
schools. Every school should have clear and well-established
procedures in place for dealing with allegations of sexual
harassment and violence as part of their safeguarding procedures.
“It is important to remember that schools’ work goes beyond
responding to incidents if and when they do occur. They also
proactively seek ways to prevent such behaviour from happening in
the first place. At the heart of that work is creating a culture
where it is very clear that any form of sexual harassment or
violence is completely unacceptable, and one where pupils feel
confident to speak out should such behaviour occur, knowing that
they will be listened to.
“The introduction of RSHE for all pupils in all schools will also
enable a place in the curriculum for pupils to understand and
explore the issues. Schools are doing vital work in this field.”
