This online conference will examine priorities for tackling sexual abuse in schools, and the next steps for addressing the challenges for safeguarding students and supporting their welfare.

It will be a timely opportunity to assess the DfE’s updated statutory Keeping children safe in education guidance following its implementation in September 2022.

We also expect discussion of progress and unresolved issues, following findings in the investigation by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse into the response of residential schools and other institutions to sexual abuse by staff, and what is needed for education settings to tackle the issues.

Further sessions look at wider cultural issues relating to sexual abuse and harassment in schools, drawing on responses to the Everyone’s Invited campaign on rape culture in educational settings.

Overall, areas for discussion include:
• safeguarding policy in schools - establishing positive cultures, leadership, and prevention strategies - staff training - engaging with young people - working with local safeguarding partners
• pupil welfare - helping students’ understanding of abuse, safety, and reporting - engaging with victims - tackling peer-to-peer abuse - support for mental and physical health alongside teaching
• implementing policy and best practice - responding to the DfE and wider official guidance, as well as findings from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and stakeholder evidence
• recruitment practices and staff - hiring strategies for paid and volunteer staff - monitoring staff conduct and standards of compliance
• institutional culture - tackling negative gender stereotypes and teaching frameworks - encouraging discussion and face-to-face support
• school workforce - providing staff with support for their role in safeguarding and abuse prevention - assessing appraisal strategy - the future of the Teaching Regulation Agency
• inspection - priorities for investigations of sexual abuse - driving up standards and compliance - operating a dual service.

Keynote sessions will be with: Wendy Ghaffar HMI, Specialist Adviser, Cross Remit Safeguarding, Ofsted; Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary, NASWUT; Soma Sara, Founder, Everyone’s Invited; and Suzanne Taylor, Assistant Director - Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation, Barnardo’s.