Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support children in school who have reported an allegation of sexual assault or rape by a peer.

The Department’s statutory safeguarding guidance ‘Keeping children safe in education (KCSIE)’ provides schools and colleges with advice on handling allegations of sexual assault or rape by a peer. All schools and colleges must have regard to this guidance when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils.

KCSIE does not provide, nor would it be possible to provide, detailed guidance on what to do in every case. Instead, it provides effective safeguarding practice and principles for schools to consider in their decision making process.

Part five of KCSIE provides clear advice on what schools should do to manage any reports of child on child sexual violence or sexual harassment. It provides detailed information on schools’ legal responsibilities, best practice, and advice on managing reports of harmful sexual behaviour or abuse, with links to specialist advice and support for children.

The Department consults bi-annually on KCSIE to ensure that it provides school and college safeguarding leads with the information they need to keep pupils safe.