Thousands of child-on-child sexual offences reported at schools in England and Wales

Mixed · 2A Guardian investigation based on freedom of information requests found at least 8,500 sexual offences against children aged under 13 were recorded by police in England and Wales as having occurred on school premises or nearby between 2021 and 2025, an average of 4.7 a day. 1 2 Mixed · 2The figures include almost 2,000 reports of rape and attempted rape, about one a day, and the Guardian said more than a third of the rape victims were under 13. 1 2 Mixed · 2Most police reports did not give the alleged perpetrator's age, but they are likely to be fellow pupils; in at least 1,890 offences against under-13s the offender was described as under 18. 1 2

Left · 1Close to two-thirds of reported crimes against under-13s where the victim's sex was recorded involved female victims. 1 Left · 1The data also recorded 6,140 crimes involving possession, taking, making or distribution of indecent or prohibited images of children under 18, and the Guardian reported at least 2,300 sexual crimes against 13-to-16-year-olds and a further 9,100 against those aged 13 or over, three-quarters involving a female victim. 1 Left · 1The Guardian said the true figure is likely to be significantly higher, because only 33 of the 43 police forces in England and Wales replied, and forces collect data differently; some forces' figures came from keyword searches of summary notes and may include cases that mentioned schools but happened elsewhere. 1

Left · 1Excluding 2021, when schools were closed between January and March, the Guardian found the rate of offences outside London rose 4%, from 26.6 per 100,000 children under 13 in 2022 to 27.6 in 2025. 1 Mixed · 2Children's commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza called peer-on-peer abuse in schools "widespread, normalised and too often brushed under the carpet", saying "we have a long way to go" and that it is "a societal one" rather than only a school issue. 1 2 Mixed · 2Andrew Lord of Leigh Day solicitors, who represents abuse survivors, said the data showed the "horrifying true scale" of the problem and that those in authority "can no longer claim that they were not aware". 1 2

Mixed · 2A government spokesperson described the figures as appalling, saying schools' duty to respond to sexual violence and harassment is now statutory, all young people will be taught about healthy relationships and consent, and the Online Safety Act obliges tech companies to tackle harmful content. 1 2 Left · 1Acting chief constable Becky Riggs of the National Police Chiefs' Council called the numbers "deeply concerning" but said they might also reflect growing awareness and greater confidence among child victims to come forward. 1 Left · 1Janaya Walker of End Violence Against Women called the data "shocking but sadly not surprising", Soma Sara of Everyone's Invited said schools cannot tackle the issue alone given online pornography, and Pepe Di'Iasio of the Association of School and College Leaders called the prevalence "appalling" and urged ministers to go further in regulating online platforms. 1

Left · 1A second Guardian piece, marking ten years since an MPs' women and equalities committee report on sexual harassment in schools, said the problem persists and may be more pernicious because of social media, misogyny and online pornography. 3 Left · 1That piece said only incidents reported to and recorded by police are captured, and lawyers and campaigners suggest many more go unreported, often because the children are under the age of criminal responsibility and the assault is dismissed as "age-related exploration". 3 Left · 1Lawyers Andrew Lord and Richard Scorer said schools often struggle to respond; Scorer linked a rise in cases to greater awareness and possibly a higher underlying level of abuse tied to online pornography, while former headteacher Tony Hartney said awareness has improved but cases remain "tricky" to handle. 3

Left · 1A parent identified as Bethany, whose name was changed, said her eight-year-old son was abused three times by a classmate and that the school dismissed it as relationship difficulties, offered no real support and drew up no safety plan; he later moved school while the other boy stayed. 3