A coalition of nearly 90 organizations has called on the prime minister to take urgent action to address child-on-child sexual abuse in schools across England and Wales, following an investigation that revealed the extent of the problem. The groups emphasized the need for renewed efforts to fulfill Labour’s manifesto commitment to halve violence against women and girls.
An analysis of police data from 2021 to 2025 showed that close to five sexual crimes against children aged 12 and under were reported to police each day at primary and secondary schools in the region. This includes nearly 2,000 cases of rape and attempted rape, averaging one allegation per school day. More than one-third of rape victims were younger than 13 years old.
The data also indicated that at least 8,500 sexual offences involving children under 13 occurred on or near school premises during the same period, equating to roughly 4.7 reported incidents daily. While many reports did not specify the age of the alleged offenders, legal experts and advocates suggest that most perpetrators are likely fellow students. The majority of the victims were girls.
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, the coalition highlighted the “harrowing reality” of sexual violence against children in educational settings and called for decisive measures to end the cycle of harm. The signatories—which include academics, campaign groups, and organizations such as the End Violence Against Women Coalition, Rape Crisis, Women’s Aid, Refuge, the National Education Union, and Everyone’s Invited—stressed that these figures represent only a fraction of actual incidents, as many cases go unreported.
The letter also underscored the broader impact of sexual violence on victims’ physical and mental health, as well as its effect on school attendance, academic performance, and overall wellbeing. It stated, “All children should have the right to access education without facing abuse,” and noted that child sexual abuse occurring within the home remains a significant, though separate, concern.
Growing awareness of the issue follows a 2016 inquiry by the women and equalities committee, which found sexual harassment and violence to be widespread in English schools. Subsequent testimonies collected through the Everyone’s Invited movement in 2020 and an Ofsted review urged school and college leaders to acknowledge and address the prevalence of sexual harassment and online abuse among young people.
The coalition’s letter pointed to multiple official reports and campaigns dating back several years without substantial policy changes, urging the government to treat this moment as an opportunity for meaningful reform. The Department for Education was contacted for comment.