Harassment in Schools

When concerns about harassment are not taken seriously, it can leave parents feeling frustrated and children feeling unsafe. Delays, inadequate investigations or a lack of safeguarding measures can allow harmful behaviour to continue, affecting education, wellbeing and long-term development.

Understanding harassment in schools

Harassment in schools is defined as unwanted conduct that violates a pupil’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment. It often overlaps with bullying, discrimination and safeguarding concerns, including peer-on-peer abuse or online behaviour. Schools have clear legal duties to prevent harassment and to act decisively when issues arise.

Harassment can amount to a safeguarding issue where it causes harm, affects a child’s development or disrupts their learning. Guidance requires schools to respond promptly and proportionately, particularly in cases involving peer-on-peer sexual harassment or violence.

Where children have special educational needs or disabilities, schools must act early to identify those needs, make reasonable adjustments and provide appropriate support in line with the SEND Code of Practice.

Failures to do so can have lasting consequences. A child’s learning may be disrupted, their mental health affected, and their trust in the education system undermined. Where harassment is linked to a protected characteristic or involves safeguarding risks, the implications can be even more serious.

What you can do about harassment in schools

There are several layers of protection designed to prevent harassment in schools. Guidance such as Keeping Children Safe in Education requires schools to maintain effective safeguarding systems and respond to issues like sexual harassment and online abuse, with similar standards applying in Wales.

Oversight bodies reinforce these duties. Ofsted assesses whether schools’ safeguarding arrangements keep pupils safe, while the Equality and Human Rights Commission monitors how harassment is addressed, with a focus on prevention, early intervention and staff training.

Challenging harassment typically involves raising concerns with the school, ensuring incidents are properly recorded, and pursuing a structured complaint if the response is inadequate. This may include requesting safeguarding measures, reasonable adjustments (particularly where SEND is involved), and escalation to governors, academy trusts or external bodies where necessary.

When to seek advice

Consider contacting us if:

• Your child has reported sexualised comments, unwanted touching, or repeated derogatory messages, in person or online.
• The school has not recorded or escalated concerns, or you feel unsafe for your child upon arrival or at break times.
• Your child has special educational needs, but adjustments or support have not been put in place despite repeated requests.
• Incidents appear to target a protected characteristic such as disability, race or sex.

How can we support you?

We advise students and parents facing harassment in schools with expert, clear advice so that you can respond confidently and protect your child’s wellbeing and education.

We take a pragmatic approach to harassment concerns, ensuring that you understand your rights and the steps available to secure meaningful action from the school.

We act for students and their parents across a wide range of matters, including:

• Assessing whether conduct amounts to harassment, discrimination or a safeguarding issue
• Preparing clear evidence and chronologies to support your position
• Drafting complaints and formal correspondence to secure protective measures
• Advising on safeguarding duties, including sexual harassment and online abuse
• Supporting cases involving special educational needs and reasonable adjustments
• Escalating complaints to governing bodies, academy trusts or local authorities
• Advising on Equality Act claims and potential remedies, including compensation

We provide clear guidance to help you understand the options available to you and move quickly towards the best possible outcome, resolving issues as constructively and effectively as possible.