Estimates that almost two-thirds of schoolgirls and almost a third of schoolboys have experienced sexual harassment are a "significant underestimate," a Senedd committee has found. They also found children as young as nine are being sexually harassed by their peers inside and outside of school, an event "so common it’s considered normal behaviour".
Figures from Estyn revealed that 61% of female pupils and 29% of male pupils had experienced sexual harassment but the children and young people's committee in the Senedd found those figures are probably a significant underestimation because Estyn didn’t consider sexual harassment in primary schools or colleges when "sexual harassment is probably common in both". The committee was told harassment amongst pupils is so common it is often missed or considered normal by schools and many pupils don't inform their teachers fearing they won't be taken seriously.
