School suspensions for sexual misconduct in England rise 12% to 7,278, including pupils aged five

Mixed · 2Schools in England issued 7,278 suspensions citing sexual misconduct in the 2024/25 school year, the highest total since the current recording method began in 2020, according to Department for Education figures. 1 2 Mixed · 2That is almost 40 suspensions every school day, and up 12% from 6,479 in the previous year; the rise came although suspensions overall were falling. 1 2 Mixed · 2Twenty of the suspensions involved children aged five or under, 19 of them in reception year. 1 2

Mixed · 2Primary schools accounted for 759 suspensions and five permanent exclusions, while pupils aged 13 and 14 were the most frequent subjects of suspension, with 1,564 between them. 2 1 Left · 1Sexual misconduct was recorded as a reason for 143 permanent exclusions, and schools can log up to three reasons for each suspension or exclusion. 2 Right · 1The category covers sexual assaults, abuse, harassment and lewd behaviour, whether aimed at classmates or staff. 1

Right · 1Christopher McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, called the figures "only the tip of the iceberg of misogyny in schools", said most cases go unreported, and urged the government to expand single-sex schooling. 1 Right · 1Soma Sara, chief executive of the Everyone's Invited charity, said she hoped schools are now more conscious of sexual harassment and abuse among children and better equipped to identify and intervene. 1 Mixed · 2A government spokesman pointed to its strategy to halve violence against women and girls, a pledge to teach all young people about healthy relationships and consent from an early age, and the Online Safety Act. 1 2

Mixed · 2Both outlets note that Ofsted has found sexual harassment normalised among schoolchildren and that teachers have warned that online influencers such as Andrew Tate shape how boys treat girls. 1 2