Sally Weale’s article (One in five girls in England don’t feel safe at school – survey, 25 Guardian) makes for disturbing – though unsurprising – reading. What lies behind the findings is everyday sexism that will continue until we wake up to the urgent need for all public services to cater for the specific issues facing girls and young women today, especially those most at risk from poverty, abuse and poor mental health.
At Agenda, we have found an unacceptable tolerance of sexual harassment of girls in schools and, in particular, pupil referral units, where girls are outnumbered by boys. In a report to be published in November, an 18-year-old told us that she had been on the sharp end of repeated harassment of a sexual nature by a male student. The response when she told teachers and the school police officer? One teacher asked: “Why do you let it bother you?” The police officer told her to “stop bitching”.
