Safeguarding children from sexual abuse in residential schools
Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse
Abstract
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (‘the Inquiry’) was set up in March 2015 and aims to consider the extent to which some state and non-state institutions in England and Wales have failed in their duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation, and to make meaningful recommendations for change. The Inquiry’s investigations look at how different institutions have responded to child sexual abuse. The residential schools investigation’s remit is to investigate the institutional response to allegations of child sexual abuse in residential schools. Within the education sector, residential schools face distinct and complex challenges to prevent and respond to incidents of child sexual abuse effectively. All participants could identify ‘clear cut’ types of child sexual abuse such as sexual violence and rape but were less confident about identifying and dealing with peer-on-peer concerns and other ‘grey areas’. Prevention work was multi-faceted and included awareness-raising, and education and training of staff, students and parents. This was both supported and underpinned by a strong ‘safeguarding culture’ within schools. Parents and children wanted education and awareness-raising work within the school to start as early as appropriate. However, some parents were more ‘hands-off’, trusting the school to take the lead. Disclosures were often initiated by children, suggesting that some children felt able and comfortable to talk about their concerns. Overall, staff reported the highest number of concerns. Reporting practice varied between residential schools in the study, despite working from the same statutory guidance. Residential special schools recorded nearly ten times the number of concerns per student than other residential schools. (author Text)
Description
item.page.type
Article
item.page.format
Keywords
child abuse, institutional abuse, research, United Kingdom, International Resources
Citation
Roberts, Ellie ; Sharrock, Sarah ; Yeo, Alice ; Graham, Jenny ; Turley, Caroline ; Kelley, Nancy. (2020). Safeguarding children from sexual abuse in residential schools. London: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse