The department published detailed advice on sexual violence and sexual harassment between children in schools and colleges in December 2017, which was further updated and strengthened in May 2018. The advice is very clear about the systems schools should have in place to respond to reports of sexual violence and sexual harassment, including information about how to provide support to victims of abuse.

To give this issue the prominence it deserves, we reflected key elements of this advice in a new section of our revised ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ (KCSIE) Guidance for schools and colleges published on 3 September 2018. In addition, KCSIE now includes a clear definition for all staff as to what sexual violence and sexual harassment look like. It also sets out the expectation that child protection policies should reflect a school’s approach to sexual violence and sexual harassment. KCSIE makes clear that all school staff should receive child protection and safeguarding training at their induction and this training should be regularly updated.

In response to the findings in the Women and Equalities Committee report into sexual violence and sexual harassment in schools, we have updated and strengthened the Department for Education anti-bullying guidance. This was with the support and advice of the expert group that the department set up to support the commitments we made in the government response to the report. The update included inserting additional advice for schools on low-level sexualised behaviours. We also incorporated links to sources of further information on tackling sexual harassment and sexual bullying in schools. This sits alongside the existing information, already in the guidance, on racial bullying, LGBT based bullying and disability based bullying.

We are also working to identify how we can best help schools to create an atmosphere of respect, which will reduce bullying behaviour. This will help schools deliver their range of existing equalities, behaviour, bullying and safeguarding duties in a way that minimises the burdens upon them.

Ofsted guidance is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman. I have asked her to write to hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the libraries of both Houses.

On 14 December 2017 the department published advice for schools on how to prevent and respond to reports of sexual violence and sexual harassment between children (available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sexual-violence-and-sexual-harassment-between-children-in-schools-and-colleges.)

Keeping Children Safe in Education is statutory guidance that all schools must have regard to when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children (available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2).

KCSIE sets out that all staff should receive safeguarding and child protection training at induction and that training should be regularly updated. All schools should have an effective child protection policy. The policy should include procedures to minimise the risk of peer on peer abuse, set out how allegations will be investigated and dealt with, be clear abuse should never be passed off as “banter” and set out how victims of peer on peer abuse will be supported.

The department is consulting on revising KCSIE. The consultation (available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/keeping-children-safe-in-education-proposed-revisions) closes on 22 February 2018 and provides an opportunity to comment on the effectiveness of the sexual violence and sexual harassment advice.

On 14 December 2017 the department published advice for schools on how to prevent and respond to reports of sexual violence and sexual harassment between children (available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sexual-violence-and-sexual-harassment-between-children-in-schools-and-colleges.)

Keeping Children Safe in Education is statutory guidance that all schools must have regard to when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children (available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2).

KCSIE sets out that all staff should receive safeguarding and child protection training at induction and that training should be regularly updated. All schools should have an effective child protection policy. The policy should include procedures to minimise the risk of peer on peer abuse, set out how allegations will be investigated and dealt with, be clear abuse should never be passed off as “banter” and set out how victims of peer on peer abuse will be supported.

The department is consulting on revising KCSIE. The consultation (available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/keeping-children-safe-in-education-proposed-revisions) closes on 22 February 2018 and provides an opportunity to comment on the effectiveness of the sexual violence and sexual harassment advice.