NSPCC response to Estyn’s peer-on-peer harassment review

Tracey Holdsworth, Head of Service for the NSPCC in Wales, said:

“This review will shock many people but is sadly not surprising. It reinforces the testimonies published by Everyone’s Invited and shows how pervasive harmful sexual behaviour and peer sexual abuse is in Wales, both online and offline. For many pupils it’s an everyday part of life they should not have to tolerate.

“Crucially, Estyn has listened extensively to children and that has helped expose what’s happening. This demonstrates that young people’s voices and experiences must shape policies and be central to the inspection process. There now needs to be a whole school approach to preventing harmful sexual behaviour. Teachers and wider school staff should work with students to create a positive culture in which healthy behaviour flourishes, harmful attitudes are challenged and inappropriate behaviour is identified and responded to.

“NSPCC Cymru/Wales has already worked with partners to develop guidance for education settings which supports this approach in designing mandatory relationships and sexualities education in the curriculum. RSE has the potential to help children and young people recognise healthy and unhealthy behaviour, reflect on their own relationships and contribute to a positive school culture. But this needs to be accompanied by a funded national programme of professional learning, to ensure that teachers are well trained and have the skills and confidence to design and deliver relevant and inclusive RSE content, which takes into account the voices of children and young people.

“However, it’s clear that this problem isn’t limited to classrooms and corridors. At a UK level we need a strong Online Safety Bill which effectively regulates social media and prevents children from coming to harm. Here in Wales, schools need to work closely with safeguarding partners to understand and address the risks children face in their communities and ensure there is a joined-up response from services when they experience sexual abuse. At the same time, the Welsh Government must retain its commitment to an annually updated National Online Safety Action Plan with a focus on prevention, education, training and information about online risks and harm.”