Attitudes towards women and girls in educational settings

Women and Equalities Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 9 Jun 2022 Closed: 28 May 2024 Parliament page
An inquiry to scrutinise how attitudes in educational settings, from early years to university, affect women and girls throughout their lives, drawing on an existing body of evidence including academic papers, reports and submissions to other Select Committee inquiries, including our predecessor Committee. This inquiry is part of the committee’s … Read more
8 Recommendations
6 Conclusions
1 Report
5 Oral sessions
1 Letter
5 Events
Activity timeline 13 events
17 Nov
2023
Report published
5 Jul
2023
Report published
22 Mar
2023
Correspondence
12 Oct
2022
Oral evidence
12 Oct
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
21 Sep
2022
Oral evidence
21 Sep
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Hybrid meeting
7 Sep
2022
Oral evidence
7 Sep
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
20 Jul
2022
Oral evidence
20 Jul
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
28 Jun
2022
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
12 Oct 2022
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Attitudes towards women and girls in educational settings
Andrea Jenkyns MP · Department for Education Andrew Cook · Ofsted Emma Davies · Department for Education Kate Dixon · Department for Education Kelly Tolhurst MP · Department for Education Susan Lapworth · Office for Students Yvette Stanley · Ofsted
21 Sep 2022
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7 Sep 2022
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Women and Equalities Committee
Ammaarah Faisal · Our Streets Now Dr Melanie McCarry · University of Strathclyde Dr Rachel Fenton · University of Exeter Law School John Edmonds Professor Cara Aitchison Richie Benson · Beyond Equality
20 Jul 2022
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Attitudes towards women and girls in educational settings
Ammaarah Faisal · Our Streets Now Dr Anni Donaldson · University of Strathclyde Dr Rachel Fenton · University of Exeter Law School John Edmonds Professor Steve West · Universities UK Richie Benson · Beyond Equality
28 Jun 2022
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oral evidence session; Women and Equalities Committee
Dr Yuwei XU · University of Nottingham, UK Jenny Barksfield · PSHE Association Keziah Featherstone · Q3 Academy Tipton Professor Nicky Stanley · University of Central Lancashire Soma Sara · Everyone's Invited Susie McDonald · Tender Arts & Education
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards women and girls in educational … HC 331 5 Jul 2023 14 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
14 results
1 Recommendation Accepted
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards w…
Ensure all schools recognise sexual harassment seriousness and receive funding for effective safeguarding.
Sexual harassment and sexual violence continues to be a scourge in our schools, with many girls and women feeling powerless. The issues are longstanding and warnings have been frequent, including from our predecessor Committee. It is saddening that it took … Read more
Government Response
The government states that updated statutory guidance (Keeping Children Safe in Education) already makes it explicit that schools should understand and prepare for sexual harassment, and that funding is available through core school budgets which have been significantly increased.
Government Equalities Office
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2 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards w…
Undertake further thematic review of safeguarding policies and investigate abuse against female staff.
Ofsted did not act quickly enough in undertaking its review in 2021, however we welcome it and their commitment to strengthen requirements for inspectors to assess how schools address sexual harassment and abuse. Should Ofsted inspectors find a lack of … Read more
Government Response
Ofsted states it has already updated handbooks and routinely monitors inspection practice to assess how schools address sexual harassment, and will continue to monitor and consider further changes if concerns arise. However, it does not commit to a further thematic review or investigating abuse against female staff.
Government Equalities Office
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3 Conclusion Accepted
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards w…
Schools lack adequate time and funding for effective KCSiE guidance implementation.
The Government has updated the statutory Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance to include tackling peer-on-peer sexual harassment and sexual violence. This is a positive step to ensure that schools better protect children and young people from harmful sexual behaviour. … Read more
Government Response
The government asserts that funding for schools to implement the Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance and provide training is available through existing core schools funding, noting that the overall education budget is at its highest level.
Government Equalities Office
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4 Recommendation Deferred
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards w…
Undertake evaluation of KCSiE guidance implementation, impact, and barriers within six months.
The Government should undertake an evaluation of how well schools are following the Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance and the impact that guidance is having in practice. The evaluation should include 33 scrutiny of any barriers preventing schools from … Read more
Government Response
The government responds by detailing its annual update and consultation process for the Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance, stating the next consultation will launch later this year, rather than committing to an evaluation of school adherence and impact.
Government Equalities Office
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5 Conclusion Accepted
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards w…
Require head teachers to address harmful mobile device use; improve DfE/Ofsted monitoring.
The Online Safety Bill is a landmark piece of legislation with the potential to significantly tackle violence against women and girls, in part through the regulation of online pornography. It presents an opportunity to address issues such as boys cyberflashing … Read more
Government Response
The government states that existing Keeping Children Safe in Education and Behaviour in Schools guidance already provides information on online safety. Crucially, the Department is producing new guidance to support head teachers in banning mobile phones in schools, and highlights that the Online Safety Bill will also support these efforts.
Government Equalities Office
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6 Recommendation Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards w…
Extend compulsory Relationships, Sex and Health Education to post-16 educational settings.
A lack of compulsory RSHE for young people until they are 18 leaves young people making their first steps in the adult world under-supported and less equipped to navigate potentially harmful and dangerous situations and keep themselves safe and healthy … Read more
Government Response
The government states it is currently considering the recommendation to extend compulsory RSHE to young people in post-16 educational settings.
Government Equalities Office
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7 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards w…
Conduct evidence-led RSHE review, engaging stakeholders, assessing curriculum gaps and needs.
The Government’s review of RSHE must be evidence-led. The review team should engage with children, teachers, parents and specialist VAWG organisations to ensure that any developments in policy support effectively the Government’s commitment to tackling sexual harassment and violence in … Read more
Government Response
The government confirms a review of RSHE statutory guidance is underway, involving an expert panel and a full public consultation. Following the guidance update, the Department will update teacher training modules and assess further support needed.
Government Equalities Office
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8 Recommendation Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards w…
Develop specific strategy to engage boys on sexual harassment in schools, laying before Parliament.
Engagement with boys and young men is crucial for tackling sexual harassment and sexual violence in educational settings. As part of the review of relationships, sex and health education (RSHE), the Department for Education and the Government Equalities Office should … Read more
Government Response
The government states a review of RSHE statutory guidance is underway, which will include expert input and public consultation. Following its publication, the Department will update teacher training modules and assess further support needed, but does not commit to a specific strategy by the requested deadline.
Government Equalities Office
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9 Recommendation Accepted
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards w…
Ensure teachers receive adequate funding and time to deliver RSHE effectively.
Schools and teachers should have the knowledge and materials to raise awareness of what sexual harassment and sexual violence looks like, address inappropriate language and behaviour, and challenge stereotypical views of sex and masculinity. In too many cases, they lack … Read more
Government Response
The Department has already funded a £3 million support package for RSHE, including teacher training, and Oak National Academy provides and develops free online curriculum materials and resources for schools.
Government Equalities Office
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10 Conclusion Accepted
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards w…
Ensure OfS sexual harassment survey captures student experiences on and off university campus.
We welcome the Office for Student’s (OfS) commitment to a prevalence survey of sexual harassment and sexual abuse in the university sector. This would overcome the reluctance of some universities to do this work due to fears of reputational damage. … Read more
Government Response
The OfS is piloting a survey on sexual harassment and abuse with 13 universities, and a full survey in 2024 will include students' experiences both on and off campus.
Government Equalities Office
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11 Conclusion Accepted
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards w…
Improve university whistleblowing policies to end silence regarding sexual abuse and violence.
It is disgraceful that universities in England have used non-disclosure agreements to silence victims of sexual harassment and violence. Given the number of universities still to commit to banning the use of NDAs, we are pleased to see the Government … Read more
Government Response
The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act, which received Royal Assent in May 2023, will include a ban on the use of non-disclosure agreements in sexual harassment cases in universities, effective 2024. For whistleblowing, the Office for Students already requires universities to have a complaints process, and whistleblowers can report to the Independent Adjudicator.
Government Equalities Office
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12 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards w…
Develop nationwide sexual harassment and violence awareness campaign targeting male university students.
The Department for Education should develop a nationwide sexual harassment and sexual violence awareness campaign that particularly targets male university students.
Government Response
The government refers to the Home Office's 2023 'ENOUGH' campaign and states the Department for Education is building on this, working with sector bodies to share good practice rather than committing to a new, separate nationwide campaign targeting male university students.
Government Equalities Office
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13 Recommendation Deferred
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards w…
Strengthen Office for Students' mandatory university requirements for tackling sexual harassment and violence.
The higher education sector has made progress in tackling sexual harassment and sexual violence, but that progress has been inconsistent and slow. The Office for Students (OfS) has committed to a new condition of registration which will place mandatory obligations … Read more
Government Response
The government notes that the OfS's public consultation results on mandatory obligations for universities to tackle sexual harassment will be published soon, with new measures in force in 2024.
Government Equalities Office
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14 Conclusion Deferred
Fifth Report - Attitudes towards w…
Require all universities to implement compulsory bystander intervention programmes for first-year students.
The Office for Students’ condition of registration should require all universities to put in place compulsory evidence-based bystander intervention programmes for all first-year students. The Office for Students should strengthen its statement of expectations to ensure that universities provide that … Read more
Government Response
The Department for Education expects universities to comply with existing law and notes many already provide bystander training. The Office for Students' public consultation results will be published soon, with new measures to be in force in 2024, but it does not directly commit to making bystander training compulsory.
Government Equalities Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 14 of 8 classified
Accepted 6
Accepted in Part 2
Acknowledged 3
Deferred 3
Total 8 recs + 6 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
22 Mar 2023 To committee Letter from the Office for Students relating to the attitudes towards women and girls in educational settings inquiry
Parliament page