Expert comment: sexual harrassment 'time bomb' in schools known about for years

Dr Karen Jones, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Management at the University of Reading comments following news reports about the extent of sexual assaults and harrassment in schools.

Dr Jones said:

“News of gender stereotyping, sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools is sad, shocking but not at all surprising. This has been a time bomb waiting to go off. 

“Five years ago the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee published a report on sexual harassment and sexual voidance in UK schools that detailed thousands of sexual offences, including rapes over a three-year period.

“Sadly, there is extensive evidence that many school pupils in the UK routinely experience innuendo, lewd comments and sexual remarks that reinforce gender stereotypes and demean, ridicule, intimidate, isolate and harm them. This can create a culture that breeds harassment and violence, especially towards girls. This has been an issue that the Government, Ofsted and school leaders have been aware of this issue for a long time, and tragically their inaction has led to many more pupils being victim to a culture going unchallenged.”

In 2020 Dr Karen Jones published a book, Challenging Gender Stereotypes in Education providing research-informed solutions to improve practice in specific curriculum areas. The book outlines best practice for working with parents, communities, colleagues and school leaders to tackle gender stereotyping, sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools.