3rd Report - Sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools
- HC No.
- HC 91
- Published
- 13 Sep 2016
- Items
- 0
- Government response
- Government response published 29 November 2016. Read the government's response ↗
Select committee: Women and Equalities Committee
Sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools inquiry
Closed
Opened 12 Apr 2016
Closed 30 Nov 2016
Women and Equalities Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
The Committee urges the Government to act now to protect and empower a generation of children and young people. Key recommendations are: The Government must use the new Education Bill to ensure every school takes appropriate action to prevent and respond to sexual harassment and sexual violence. Schools will need support from Government to achieve this, including clear national guidance. Ofsted and the Independent Schools Inspectorate must assess schools on how well they are recording, monitoring, preventing and responding to incidents of sexual harassment and sexual violence. Every child at primary and secondary school must have access to high quality, age-appropriate relationships and sex education delivered by well-trained individuals. This can only be achieved by making sex and relationships education (SRE) a statutory subject; investing in teacher training; and investing in local third sector specialist support. Terms of reference: Sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools Fact check: Sexual harassment in schools web forum
Where it stands
The inquiry is closed, opened 12 April 2016.
The committee has published 1 report, most recently 3rd Report - Sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools on 13 September 2016.
The government's response
Published 29 November 2016.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government "firmly support[s]" the committee's proposal for a whole school approach to sexual harassment and sexual violence, but proposes a school-based approach of codes of practice, research and an advisory group rather than a new statutory duty.
- It believes that creating an additional duty for all schools to develop a whole school approach "will not ensure the system-wide change" sought, and proposes supporting schools to produce their own codes of practice instead.
- It will set up an advisory group of sector specialists to review the DfE's Keeping Children Safe in Education and behaviour and bullying guidance, and says it will convene the group "at the earliest opportunity".
- On data, it does "not, however, at this stage propose to require all schools to collect data for national collation and comparison", preferring schools to rely on their own professional judgement.
- It does not plan a specific sector fund, and on PSHE and SRE says the case for further action is "actively under review" without committing to make them statutory.
Reports
- 3rd Report - Sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools13 September 2016
Evidence
- 4 oral evidence sessionsLatest 12 July 2016
Recent activity
- 1st Special Report - Sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools: Government response to the Committee’s Third Report of Session 2016–1729 November 2016, Report published
- 3rd Report - Sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools13 September 2016, Report published
- Oral evidence session12 July 2016, Oral evidence
Reports
Oral evidence sessions
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