Recommendations & Conclusions
14 items
1
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards women …
Accepted
Sexual harassment and sexual violence continues to be a scourge in our schools, with many girls and women feeling powerless. The issues are longstanding and warnings have been frequent, including from our predecessor Committee. It is saddening that it took the public testimonies of thousands of school-aged children for Ofsted …
Government response. The government states that updated statutory guidance (Keeping Children Safe in Education) already makes it explicit that schools should understand and prepare for sexual harassment, and that funding is available through core school budgets which have been significantly increased.
Government Equalities Office
2
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards women …
Accepted in Part
Ofsted did not act quickly enough in undertaking its review in 2021, however we welcome it and their commitment to strengthen requirements for inspectors to assess how schools address sexual harassment and abuse. Should Ofsted inspectors find a lack of progress has been made in tackling peer-on-peer abuse in schools, …
Government response. Ofsted states it has already updated handbooks and routinely monitors inspection practice to assess how schools address sexual harassment, and will continue to monitor and consider further changes if concerns arise. However, it does not commit to a further thematic …
Government Equalities Office
3
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards women …
Accepted
The Government has updated the statutory Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance to include tackling peer-on-peer sexual harassment and sexual violence. This is a positive step to ensure that schools better protect children and young people from harmful sexual behaviour. However, schools need the appropriate time and money to implement …
Government response. The government asserts that funding for schools to implement the Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance and provide training is available through existing core schools funding, noting that the overall education budget is at its highest level.
Government Equalities Office
4
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards women …
Deferred
The Government should undertake an evaluation of how well schools are following the Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance and the impact that guidance is having in practice. The evaluation should include 33 scrutiny of any barriers preventing schools from implementing the guidance effectively. This evaluation should be completed within …
Government response. The government responds by detailing its annual update and consultation process for the Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance, stating the next consultation will launch later this year, rather than committing to an evaluation of school adherence and impact.
Government Equalities Office
5
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards women …
Accepted
The Online Safety Bill is a landmark piece of legislation with the potential to significantly tackle violence against women and girls, in part through the regulation of online pornography. It presents an opportunity to address issues such as boys cyberflashing hardcore pornographic images at girls, the Airdropping of nude images …
Government response. The government states that existing Keeping Children Safe in Education and Behaviour in Schools guidance already provides information on online safety. Crucially, the Department is producing new guidance to support head teachers in banning mobile phones in schools, and highlights …
Government Equalities Office
6
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards women …
Acknowledged
A lack of compulsory RSHE for young people until they are 18 leaves young people making their first steps in the adult world under-supported and less equipped to navigate potentially harmful and dangerous situations and keep themselves safe and healthy in relationships. We recommend that compulsory RSHE is extended to …
Government response. The government states it is currently considering the recommendation to extend compulsory RSHE to young people in post-16 educational settings.
Government Equalities Office
7
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards women …
Accepted in Part
The Government’s review of RSHE must be evidence-led. The review team should engage with children, teachers, parents and specialist VAWG organisations to ensure that any developments in policy support effectively the Government’s commitment to tackling sexual harassment and violence in schools and colleges. The review should include an assessment of …
Government response. The government confirms a review of RSHE statutory guidance is underway, involving an expert panel and a full public consultation. Following the guidance update, the Department will update teacher training modules and assess further support needed.
Government Equalities Office
8
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards women …
Acknowledged
Engagement with boys and young men is crucial for tackling sexual harassment and sexual violence in educational settings. As part of the review of relationships, sex and health education (RSHE), the Department for Education and the Government Equalities Office should work together to develop a specific strategy for engaging with …
Government response. The government states a review of RSHE statutory guidance is underway, which will include expert input and public consultation. Following its publication, the Department will update teacher training modules and assess further support needed, but does not commit to a …
Government Equalities Office
9
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards women …
Accepted
Schools and teachers should have the knowledge and materials to raise awareness of what sexual harassment and sexual violence looks like, address inappropriate language and behaviour, and challenge stereotypical views of sex and masculinity. In too many cases, they lack the funding and time to deliver RSHE effectively. While it …
Government response. The Department has already funded a £3 million support package for RSHE, including teacher training, and Oak National Academy provides and develops free online curriculum materials and resources for schools.
Government Equalities Office
10
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards women …
Accepted
We welcome the Office for Student’s (OfS) commitment to a prevalence survey of sexual harassment and sexual abuse in the university sector. This would overcome the reluctance of some universities to do this work due to fears of reputational damage. The OfS should ensure that the survey captures students’ experiences …
Government response. The OfS is piloting a survey on sexual harassment and abuse with 13 universities, and a full survey in 2024 will include students' experiences both on and off campus.
Government Equalities Office
11
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards women …
Accepted
It is disgraceful that universities in England have used non-disclosure agreements to silence victims of sexual harassment and violence. Given the number of universities still to commit to banning the use of NDAs, we are pleased to see the Government endorse legislative proposals to prevent this abhorrent practice. Universities need …
Government response. The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act, which received Royal Assent in May 2023, will include a ban on the use of non-disclosure agreements in sexual harassment cases in universities, effective 2024. For whistleblowing, the Office for Students already requires …
Government Equalities Office
12
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards women …
Acknowledged
The Department for Education should develop a nationwide sexual harassment and sexual violence awareness campaign that particularly targets male university students.
Government response. The government refers to the Home Office's 2023 'ENOUGH' campaign and states the Department for Education is building on this, working with sector bodies to share good practice rather than committing to a new, separate nationwide campaign targeting male university …
Government Equalities Office
13
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards women …
Deferred
The higher education sector has made progress in tackling sexual harassment and sexual violence, but that progress has been inconsistent and slow. The Office for Students (OfS) has committed to a new condition of registration which will place mandatory obligations on universities to tackle sexual harassment and sexual violence, which …
Government response. The government notes that the OfS's public consultation results on mandatory obligations for universities to tackle sexual harassment will be published soon, with new measures in force in 2024.
Government Equalities Office
14
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards women …
Deferred
The Office for Students’ condition of registration should require all universities to put in place compulsory evidence-based bystander intervention programmes for all first-year students. The Office for Students should strengthen its statement of expectations to ensure that universities provide that training. (Paragraph 71) 36
Government response. The Department for Education expects universities to comply with existing law and notes many already provide bystander training. The Office for Students' public consultation results will be published soon, with new measures to be in force in 2024, but it …
Government Equalities Office