Campaign to end sexual harassment in schools

Girlguiding advocates explain why sexual harassment in schools is still an urgent issue we all need to address

Headline after headline makes it clear how unsafe girls and women feel in their everyday lives, limiting their freedoms and damaging their wellbeing.

Whether it’s at school, online, or on their way home, girls and young women face relentless harassment and abuse. Girlguiding’s Girls’ Attitudes Survey revealed that 59% of girls and young women aged 13 to 21 have seen or experienced sexual harassment.

This unacceptable and shocking reality isn’t new. In 2015, the then advocate panel launched Girlguiding’s campaign to tackle sexual harassment in schools, helping to show the extent of the issue and calling for new guidance for schools and compulsory Relationships and Sex Education (RSE). We supported the Women and Equalities Select Committee inquiry into sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools, which clearly showed the government how endemic this issue is in their 2016 report.

When the government announced RSE would be made compulsory in England in 2017 and published new guidance for schools on tackling sexual harassment, it was assumed this would be a turning point. It’s been devastating to many girls’ lives that years on, the reality is, nothing has changed.

Abuse and harassment on this scale needs to be addressed by everyone. The burden mustn’t fall on girls and young women to try to change this on their own.

Support for girls and leaders

If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual harassment - or anything else that has made you uncomfortable - you are not alone and there is support available. 

If you need to talk, or want some guidance on supporting a young member, there are a number of specialist organisations who can help. These include:

• The NSPCC and Childline (0808 800 5000) – confidential advice and support whatever your worry, whenever you need help.
• Mind - sexual abuse support options for people who are experiencing, or have experienced, sexual abuse.
• Rape Crisis – support for young women aged 14+ who have experienced any form of sexual violence.

What next?

Girlguiding would like to see:

• Government take the lead to enable the change needed across society. We welcome the government’s announcement to review sexual harassment in schools, including asking Ofsted to undertake an immediate review of safeguarding policies in state and independent schools. We'd also like to see a change in the law to make public sexual harassment a crime. To send a clear message that this behaviour is not tolerated.
• Social media companies step up and address the ways in which their platforms are being used to cause harm to girls and young women as a result of harassment and abuse online.
• Schools create safe environments and inclusive cultures by properly implementing the current guidance and take a zero-tolerance stance to sexual harassment. And deliver high quality lessons about respect, sexual consent, challenge stereotypes around girls and boys roles and attitudes, and ensure girls bodies aren’t seen as spaces to be objectified and scrutinised.
• Parents use this as an opportunity to speak to their children about this issue, and to listen to their experiences.

It’s clear not enough has been done. We'll continue to listen to girls and be led by them, so that all schools are safe and equal, and girls and young women get the education they deserve.