Other accounts involve a boy trying to choke a 12-year-old girl while kissing her, and a male teacher asking girls as young as eight to show him their knickers and bend over while he masturbated behind them. Some of the survivors who reported their experiences at the time, report being brushed off with statements or attitudes such as ‘boys will be boys’.
On the publication of the report, Everyone’s Invited was keen to stress that it is not intended to shame specific schools, only to highlight the rape culture crisis that exists within our society. Some of the key themes it raises in the report include the normalisation of violence, structures of silence, the threat of pornography, social media, and gendered pressures and expectations.
But what are the solutions, and what should a parent like me, whose children’s school is on the list, do?
“We understand that seeing your child’s school on the list can feel overwhelming,” says Sophie Lennox, communications officer at Everyone’s Invited. “However, it’s important to remember that rape culture exists in every school across the UK. The presence of a school on the list does not mean that individual schools are uniquely problematic; rather, it reflects that students there are recognising and speaking out about these critical issues”. This, she says, is a step towards positive change. “Schools that acknowledge and address these concerns are taking responsibility and working to create safer environments”.
The charity also stresses that these issues must be taken seriously and that starts with ageing down relationships education. “Schools should ensure that teaching on these topics is consistent, empathetic, and age-appropriate. As it stands, we as adults are getting there too late,” Sophie explains. Schools can do this by working with specialist organisations such as Everyone’s Invited to educate students, teachers and parents. The Charity adds that a key priority should be close collaboration with parents to provide young people with a well-rounded and informed education on these matters.
On a parental level, Everyone’s Invited says the most important conversations to have are with your children, and you can do this by checking in with them to understand their feelings about this issue. The charity advises that bridging the generational gap is crucial and that parents must take an active role in understanding their children’s digital lives.
“An analogy our CEO, Soma, often uses is that if your child spends 3–4 hours a day on TikTok and you don’t know what TikTok is, it’s like letting them go on a 3–4 hour journey without knowing where they’re going, who they’re talking to, or what they’re doing,” explains Sophie. “A great first step is sitting with your child to watch their favourite YouTube videos or scrolling through TikTok together. Teaching critical thinking skills from an early age will help children navigate these spaces safely”.
I’ll certainly be taking this advice and speaking to my children’s school to find out what proactive steps they intend to take. While rape culture and misogyny is a scary and uncomfortable reality, it’s one I can only hope other schools and parents will find the courage to face.
For more information on Everyone’s Invited 2025 primary school report, head to their website or Instagram page.