School unable to identify sexual harassment perpetrator and are doing nothing

[Birdsflyinghigh1]

Our secondary has investigated a couple of sexual harassment incidents reported by DD (13). A boy in her year lifted up her skirt from behind - this has happened twice. On both occasions a large group of boys from her year were present and laughing and shouting - high jinks for them.

The school have an idea of who this group of boys is, they have all been interviewed and have corroborated each other's stories insofar as they all agree that someone lifted DD's skirt, but none of them can (will?) say who.

The school suspect the boys are covering for each other but they also say there's nothing they can do without a statement, witness or evidence. So the school accept DD was sexually harassed, but because they can't identify the specific boy, there will be no further action.

DD has to go back into school with nothing in place to protect her from these boys going forward, and of course now they know they can do it and get away with it. She's even more at risk and I feel she'll be a sitting duck.

The only suggestion from school is that DD spends her lunchtimes and breaks in the library where a teacher is present and she'll have some separation from the group of boys. This isn't going to work and sends the wrong message completely. AIBU to keep DD at home until the school deal with this effectively?

Further to all of that, accounts of what happened to DD have been circulating on Snapchat and the school haven't addressed it. No investigation whatsoever. They know it's an issue because other parents have told them about it, but haven't asked for screenshots or addressed it.

I think we have to escalate because the Head is refusing to be moved on his stance. Everyone’s responses have been so helpful. Thank you.

I think I'm most shocked that the advice from school seemed to be that she, as the victim, should hide herself in the library, in effect. By this they condone it as a non issue. So so bad

I agree. i
It's a completely appalling response stance by the school. Akin to telling a victim to just stay away from the bully. They're saying they can't keep their students safe from sexual harrassment. The very least they could do is tell the boys they have to be near the teadher in the library for a week so OPs DD feels ok going back.

An equivalent event happened locally at a school a few years ago but it was a racial not sexual attack.

All the boys were expelled. National outrage. Literally on the news. Ofsted visited and annihilated the school in a scathing report. Questions were asked in parliament. Bloody rightly so.

Similar incident but to a girl? Nothing to see here / shoulder shrug / fuck off snd sit in the library love. You can really see where girls are in the pecking order in 2024.

Police please

Although this is obviously extremely distressing fir the op's daughter, the actions of a 12 or 13 year old boy who are in the main very anmoying and immature is very different to an assault by an older boy or man which is more likely to be sexually motivated.

Bollock. The age of criminal responsibility is 10. You can be tried for murder at 10yo. 12/13yo boys know what they are doing and know it's wrong and digressing for their victim - hence the laughing and refusing to implicate the perpetrator.

Do you know whether this has happened to other girls?

Sometimes there are hotspots where incidents can happen so schools should try to put measures in these places to prevent further incidents.

I would be taking it further as your DD should not be the one having to change her behaviour.

For those who are trying to minimise this behaviour maybe you should read this
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-sexual-abuse-in-schools-and-colleges/review-of-sexual-abuse-in-schools-and-colleges