Follow the conference on X #HarmfulSexualBehaviours
Pastoral Leaders, Designated Safeguarding Leads, Deputy DSLs, SENCOs, School Counsellors, School Nurses, Senior Mental Health Leads and Members of the Senior Leadership Team.
““Girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse, accounting for around 90 per cent of victims of recorded rape offences against 13- to 15-year-olds in England, Wales and Scotland…Research also shows that around a third of child sexual abuse is committed by other children and young people””
How safe are our children? 2020: an overview of data on abuse of adolescents, NSPCC
“The issue is so widespread that it needs addressing for all children and young people… schools, colleges and multi-agency partners [should] act as though sexual harassment and online sexual abuse are happening, even when there are no specific reports.”
Ofsted Rapid Review into Sexual Harassment
As a school leader, you are at the forefront of creating a safe environment for students, especially in tackling the increasingly prevalent issue of harmful sexual behaviours. This full-day virtual conference is designed specifically to provide a comprehensive overview of the strategies and frameworks necessary to address HSB effectively. From early identification of concerning behaviours and the role of student voice to understanding your legal responsibilities, the sessions will arm you with the knowledge to create a safe, supportive school culture. You’ll leave confident in your ability to foster an environment where students feel secure in making disclosures and your staff are prepared to respond appropriately.
The conference will also explore the crucial influence of digital exposure on child-on-child abuse, the impact of gender inequality and pornography on student behaviour, and the importance of preventative education through PSHE and RSE. Sessions on providing staff training and support will equip you to develop a school-wide culture of vigilance, while strategies for addressing misogyny and coercive control will help you tackle these difficult topics with your students.
This is your opportunity to ensure that your school is proactive and well-prepared to prevent and respond to harmful sexual behaviours, safeguarding the well-being of all pupils.
This conference will enable you to:
Understand what harmful sexual behaviours are and how they could manifest in your school
Identify early concerning behaviours to take preventative action
Embed effective preventative education through robust PSHE and RSE
Improve your knowledge of the risk of harmful sexual behaviour online and how to equip pupils to be safe in the online world
Be clear on the role of the safeguarding lead when tackling harmful sexual behaviours and how to lead a response to incidents once they are identified
Understand the support that children who exhibit harmful sexual behaviour might need and how to approach that
Take a trauma informed approach to supporting pupils
Understand and recognise coercive behaviours
Ensure that staff and pupils are aware of the culture and ethos of the school
Equip staff to identify harmful sexual behaviours and take appropriate action
Understand the additional vulnerabilities of pupils with SEND when it comes to harmful sexual behaviours
