The Girlguiding’s Girls’ Attitudes Survey 2017 found 64% of girls aged 13-21 had experienced sexual violence or sexual harassment at school or college in the past year. This included 39% having their bra strap pulled by a boy and 27% having their skirts pulled up within the last week. 31% of female respondents aged 13-17 years saying they had received unwanted sexual images or messages in the last year (compared to 11% of male respondents).
Our children have a right to grow up safe from abuse and harassment. Schools are central to framing a safe ethos and creating safe spaces for young people to explore healthy relationships, and there is a duty on schools to ensure they take action to keep young people safe.
There is a strong movement to safeguard children and young people from harm by changing expectations, bringing forward a challenge to unacceptable behaviour and improving young people’s knowledge and understanding of healthy relationships.