Peer-on-peer sexual harassment and abuse is a serious issue that affects children and young people in schools and colleges across Wales. Around half of all pupils in secondary schools have personally experienced such harassment, and three-quarters have witnessed others being harassed. All children and young people in Wales should feel confident that they are safe from sexual harassment and abuse when they attend school –  this pressing issue an urgent and coordinated response from schools, colleges, and multi-agency partners across Wales.  

Following our recent Peer-on-Peer Sexual Harassment in Education Wales Conference, we’re sharing key insights and strategies from key experts who took part in the event – this includes Brook, Welsh Government, North Wales Police, Welsh Women’s Aid, Childnet, Pembrokeshire College, NSPCC Cymru, Progress Cymru Counselling, Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr, Kidscape, Coleg Cambria, and Prestatyn High School. 

In line with guidance in the Welsh Government’s Peer-on-Peer Sexual Harassment Action Plan, and with insights from our expert speakers, these practical steps are guidance aimed at fostering a culture where harassment, including inappropriate sexual comments and unwanted conduct, is effectively challenged and addressed. 

  1. Implement Clear Anti-Harassment Policies

Schools and colleges should adopt clear anti-harassment policies specifically addressing peer-on-peer sexual harassment. These policies must outline unacceptable behaviour such as unwanted touching and provide students with reporting options. Regular updates and communication of these policies to both staff and students ensure everyone understands their role in maintaining a safe environment and protecting young people from harmful sexual behaviours. 

  1. Provide Training for Staff on Sexual Harassment

Teachers play a crucial role in preventing and addressing sexual harassment. Training for teachers and staff can empower them to recognise, address, and report incidents, including those involving unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature, whether online and offline.  Continuous professional development keeps staff informed of new approaches and increases confidence to deal with incidents. 

  1. Create a Safe and Anonymous Reporting System

Fear of retaliation often discourages young people from reporting harassment. By establishing secure, anonymous avenues for reporting sexual abuse and harassment, including online, children and young people are given the message that their experiences are taken seriously.  

Ensuring confidentiality can encourage students to report incidents without fear, allowing for timely intervention. 

  1. Promote Healthy Relationships and Consent Education

Introducing relationship education on healthy and respectful relationships and consent is key to preventing harassment.it is important that discussions on respect, boundaries, consent, and equality are integrated into the curriculum. This helps students recognize and report inappropriate behaviour, reinforcing a culture of respect. 

The Curriculum for Wales includes a mandatory relationships and sexuality education (RSE) code of practice and schools and settings have an important role to play in supporting pupils to navigate a range of challenges, including keeping safe online and recognising health and trusting relationships, as opposed to different kinds of harmful or abusive behaviour. 

  

  1. Foster a Culture of Respect and Inclusivity

Creating a positive school culture starts with leadership. Education settings play a crucial role in educating children and young people about the importance of respectful behaviour, inclusivity, and mutual understanding. This can be achieved through the curriculum, workshops, assemblies, and campaigns. Respectful relationships are to be celebrated, while unacceptable behaviour like sexual harassment condemned. A school-wide commitment to inclusivity can significantly reduce safeguarding concerns and foster a safe environment for all.  

  

  1. Establish Student-Led Initiatives

Pupils are more likely to take ownership of creating a respectful environment when they are actively involved. Schools can encourage student-led groups, such as equalities committees or anti-bullying clubs. These groups empower students to raise awareness, support victims, and drive cultural change, helping reduce harmful sexual behaviours from within the student body.  

  1. Engage Parents and Caregivers

Parents and caregivers are important partners in addressing peer-on-peer harassment. It’s important to build positive relationships with parents and carers and support them with information and guidance about sexual harassment. Schools can host workshops and share resources with parents about safeguarding efforts and how they can reinforce respectful behaviour at home. This coordinated approach between school and home can raise awareness of online bullying, unacceptable behaviour, and sexual harassment. 

  1. Monitor and Evaluate the School Climate

Schools can regularly evaluate their climate to identify issues like sexual harassment before they escalate and to avoid an underlying culture that allows it to become normalised. Using surveys, focus groups, and/or student feedback, they can monitor how well their anti-harassment measures are working. This helps in identifying areas where safeguarding concerns remain and ensures a proactive response to any sexual abuse or inappropriate behaviour that may arise. 

  1. Offer Support Services for Sexual Harassment Victims

Students affected by harassment, especially incidents involving a sexual nature, should have access to support services. Many schools and agencies are now adopting a person-centred and trauma-informed approach to supporting children and young people who have witnessed or experienced sexual harassment. 

Schools must ensure that victims feel safe and supported, providing resources to help them heal and continue their education. Offering appropriate guidance and emotional support is essential in helping victims to recover and move forward. 

  1. Collaborate with External Organisations

Collaboration with external partners can provide schools with additional resources and expertise and can help schools and colleges to effectively respond to cases of Peer-on-Peer sexual harassment. This approach will help to break the cycle of harassment and reinforce healthy habits and behaviours. 

 Involving external experts can offer more comprehensive approaches to preventing sexual harassment and ensuring school staff are equipped to handle incidents effectively. 

Implementing these 10 strategies can create safer, more respectful environments where harassment, in all its forms, is not tolerated, and all students—whether in independent schools or larger institutions—can thrive. Many staff in schools and colleges still lack confidence in dealing with incidents and feel there is a need for more professional development and further resources to support them. 

  

Our CPD certified Preventing Peer-on-Peer Sexual Harassment in Wales Conference took place on 1st October 2024 and received excellent feedback. If you would like to view the conference recordings, they are available to purchase on demand  via our bespoke digital platform. You can play, pause and rewind recordings for 14 days after purchase and download a copy of the conference slides, which are full of useful guidance, resources and ideas to help you prevent and respond to peer-on-peer sexual abuse in your educational setting.  

  

Featured