UK Schools Report Record Suspensions for Sexual Misconduct
Nearly 40 suspensions per school day issued for sexual offenses, with children as young as five among those disciplined.
Schools in England have recorded the highest number of suspensions for sexual misconduct since 2020, with figures showing 7,278 pupils disciplined during the 2024/25 school year. Department for Education data reveals that an average of almost 40 suspensions were issued each school day for offenses ranging from sexual assaults to lewd behavior.
Alarmingly, 20 children aged five or under, most in reception year, were suspended for sexual misconduct. Five children in infant years were expelled outright. Primary schools issued 759 of the total suspensions.
The tally of sexual misconduct suspensions rose 12% from the previous year's 6,479, even as overall suspension numbers decreased. This increase occurs amid concerns from Ofsted about the normalization of sexual harassment among schoolchildren.
Teaching leaders suggest that online influences, such as those promoted by figures like Andrew Tate, may be shaping how boys interact with girls in classrooms. The government had previously supported the screening of the Netflix drama "Adolescence" in secondary schools to highlight the impact of online misogyny on teenage boys.
Pupils aged 13 and 14 were the most frequent offenders, accounting for 1,564 suspensions between them. In total, 143 pupils were permanently excluded from school last year. Schools can record up to three reasons for each suspension.
Christopher McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, stated that these figures likely represent only a fraction of the actual incidents, with most cases going unreported. He called for an expansion of single-sex schooling options, arguing that schools are no longer entirely safe environments for girls and female teachers.
Soma Sara, chief executive of the Everyone's Invited charity, expressed hope that schools are becoming more adept at recognizing and intervening in cases of sexual harassment and abuse among young people, acknowledging that the harm experienced by children was often not fully understood by adults.
A government spokesperson indicated that efforts are underway to address these issues as part of a strategy to reduce violence against women and girls. This includes commitments to teach all young people about healthy relationships and consent from an early age, and measures within the Online Safety Act to combat harmful online content and protect youth.