amp.theguardian.com/society/2018/oct/24/school-pays-thousands-to-former-pupil-over-handing-of-claim?CMP=share_btn_tw&__twitter_impression=true
School pays thousands to former pupil over handling of rape claim
Case settled out of court after girl was expected to attend classes with accused pupil
A few snippets, for you to mull over
Campaigners say the case sends an important message to schools that they have a duty under human rights and equality legislation to ensure girls who have been sexually assaulted or abused are safe and supported to remain in school.
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The committee was told that 5,500 sexual offences were recorded in UK schools over a three-year period, including 600 rapes. It recommended that ministers and schools tackle sexual abuse in schools as “an urgent policy priority”.
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Her solicitor, Louise Whitfield, said the claim was based on breaches of the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998, which protect a pupil’s right to access their education without facing discrimination, or inhuman or degrading treatment.
Whitfield said: “My client was brave enough to seek to enforce her rights and this should send a clear message to other schools faced with similar situations: they must protect a victim of sexual assault from the alleged perpetrator. This is what the guidance says and this is what the law says.”
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The girl’s mother accused the government of “appalling indifference”.
“Every single day children are getting sexually assaulted and the Department for Education (DfE) are still not making this an urgent policy priority,” she said.
“If 400 teachers had been raped over the last two years, they would be taking this seriously. But child victims of sexual assault find it really difficult to speak out, so the DfE ignore them. They pretend this isn’t happening.”
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The government published new statutory guidance on sexual violence and sexual harassment between children in schools and colleges last year.
The mother said the guidance was welcome but did not keep any child safe. “Many teachers and governors have not even read it yet, let alone understood it or been trained on it.”
It's amazing how little money, resources and time are being invested into staff awareness of the subject and how little training is being given over such a dreadful widespread problem, which harms the physical and mental well being of so many teenage girl.