NAHT Cymru have today given their response to a report investigating peer-on-peer sexual harassment among secondary school pupils in Wales. The evidence hearing, attended by members of Senedd, follows the publication of a report from ESTYN, the education and training inspectorate for Wales, which revealed that nearly half of all pupils questioned said they had personal experience of peer-on-peer sexual harassment.

This report, titled “We don’t tell our teachers” took evidence from visits made by ESTYN and Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) to 35 secondary schools, including at least one school in each local authority in Wales. The report states that three quarters of all pupils reported seeing other pupils experiencing sexual harassment. A majority of female pupils (61%) also reported having personal experiences of peer-on-peer harassment; this compares with a lower proportion of male pupils who reported instances of harassment (29%). The report did however conclude that peer-on-peer sexual harassment is actually more prevalent outside schools than in school, particularly online through social media platforms and gaming sites.

NAHT Cymru has urged the government to address the fundamental funding issues that are faced by schools across Wales, ensuring support services that work alongside schools are properly resourced. NAHT also questioned why the government is inhibiting schools in tackling such issues by instead focusing on superfluous policies such as reforming the school day and year

Speaking directly to the committee session, Laura Doel, Director of NAHT Cymru said: “Schools recognise that peer to peer sexual harassment is a significant challenge facing schools and have been working on dealing with the issues long before the publication of this report. While schools do a tremendous amount of work on educating learners, prevention and the implications around safeguarding, we have to recognise that schools are not able to do this alone. There is a societal problem that goes far beyond the school gates.  Our members are working with their learners on de-normalising the behaviour and attitudes that are common place among society – from the adverts you see, magazines they read, music they listen to and conversation and practice they witness from people they encounter.”

Chris Parry, Headteacher at Lewis School Pengam, also in attendance at the committee hearing, said: “It's vital that Welsh government, trade unions and school leaders work together to provide a response to the deep concerns that exist in regards to this issue. It is encouraging that all parties understand the significance of resourcing, multi-agency working and providing the space within the school day for professionals to prioritise such a complex and challenging area of school work.”