Child sexual abuse in the context of schools
Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse
Abstract
Sexual abuse occurred in a range of schools from state day schools to independent residential schools, and it happened to both girls and boys from a range of family backgrounds. While the analysis of Truth Project data is ongoing, this report highlights some specific features and characteristics from this research about child sexual abuse in the context of schools. The majority of perpetrators reported by participants sexually abused in the context of schools were male teachers or other educational staff. Perpetrators often manipulated and groomed children and young people, staff and parents in order to facilitate sexual abuse, and often had good reputations with staff and parents, or were seen as ‘cool’ by pupils. Fifteen percent of participants reported sexual abuse perpetrated by peers or older children, the second most frequently reported perpetrator type in the context of schools after teachers and educational staff. Sexual abuse perpetrated in residential schools was disproportionately higher in accounts from Truth Project participants compared to the proportion of these types of schools in England and Wales, and the percentage of children who attended them. A greater proportion of participants who were sexually abused in residential schools reported sexual abuse perpetrated by their peers, than participants who attended non-residential schools. They also reported higher proportions of physical abuse, psychological abuse and bullying. Sexual abuse in independent and special schools was disproportionately higher in participants’ accounts. There were also higher levels of physical and psychological abuse reported in these two school types, compared to state schools. Participants sexually abused in school contexts reported less penetrative sexual abuse, and less physical and psychological abuse but more bullying, compared to other institutional contexts. Fifty-four percent of the participants sexually abused in state schools were female. Over three-quarters of participants sexually abused in independent and special schools were male. Female participants accounted for almost 58 percent of the participants sexually abused in ‘other’ school types. Forty-two percent of participants sexually abused in the context of schools were aware of other victims of sexual abuse, which was higher than those sexually abused in other contexts at 23 percent. Almost a third of participants reported that other people were aware of the sexual abuse: 32 percent, compared to 26 percent in other contexts. In some instances this awareness was because participants were part of a group of children whom the perpetrator sexually abused, or because disclosures by other victims revealed the sexual abuse. (Author Summary)
Description
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Article
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Keywords
child abuse, incidence, research, International Resources, United Kingdom
Citation
Brown, Sarah ; Redmond, Theresa ; Rees, Dafydd ; Ford, Stephanie ; King, Sophia. (2020). Child sexual abuse in the context of schools. London: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.