MPs call for urgent action into 'widespread' sexual harassment of girls in schools
MPs have demanded urgent action to end "widespread" sexual harassment of girls in schools.
The scale of abuse was laid bare in a report by the Women and Equalities Committee, which found that groping, bullying and name calling was a part of "everyday life" for girls, and dismissed by teachers as "just banter".
The report found that some pupils, including those in primary school, were being exposed to hardcore pornography, leading to distorted views on sex and relationships.
MPs pointed to research that found that almost a third of 16 to 18-year-old girls said they had experienced unwanted sexual touching at school, and most girls and young women had faced some form of sexual harassment at school or college.
The report found that "slapping of bums and flicking [lifting up] of skirts" was common, while pupils also reported hearing girls being called a slut or a slag on a regular basis.
One teacher said they had seen "many young girls sobbing and humiliated in my office because partially naked images have gone viral".
However, the report found that too many schools were failing to adequately deal with the problem, and Ofsted had no coherent plan to tackle the issue.
Conservative MP Maria Miller, who chairs the committee, said: "It is difficult to explain why any school would allow girls to be subjected to sexual harassment and violent behaviour that has been outlawed in the adult workplace.
"The evidence shows it is undermining the confidence of young women. Failing to reinforce what is acceptable behaviour could well be fuelling the 'lad culture' that the government has already identified as a problem in colleges and universities."
Miller said there are examples of "excellent" work being done by some schools and charity organisations to prevent sexual harassment, but too few schools were recognising the issue as a problem.
MPs called for schools to gather data on reports of sexual harassment, while police should keep specific records of incidents.
Kevin Courtney, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: "Government education policies hinder schools' ability to tackle sexual harassment and sexual bullying effectively by leaving no time for pastoral care or personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) within the curriculum or school day.
"Support and guidance from the Department for Education about how to best mitigate the effects of sexual harassment and sexual violence is urgently required."