Research involving more than 2,000 support staff working in UK schools has laid bare disturbing stories of sexual harassment perpetrated by both colleagues and students – in both primary and secondary schools.
Staff are regularly targeted by physical advances, inappropriate comments, and lewd remarks.
The study, which has been carried out by UNISON and UK Feminista, finds that 10% of female support staff in secondary schools say they have been sexually harassed, mainly by male pupils but also by their male colleagues.
Furthermore, 25% of secondary school support staff have witnessed sexual harassment in their workplace during the past five years.
Disturbingly, 42% of staff who witnessed abusive incidents did not report them because they said it was “pointless” as incidents are often “brushed off” or they were worried that reporting it would affect their careers.
Respondents to the research included teaching assistants, technicians, lunchtime supervisors, and administrators.
Incidents included a male student trying to kiss a female worker and pushing her head into his crotch, boys trying to touch or slap staff members’ bottoms, or students making inappropriate sexual comments.
One teaching assistant reported “boys pushing girls and holding them down to kiss them” or “boys playing games called ‘rape touch’ and commenting on girls’ bodies”.
Incidents involving staff included one head who texted a colleague asking for photos of her breast enhancement surgery.
In the survey, 24% of the respondents report having witnessed students discussing sexist online content, with many reporting changes in the behaviour of these students including increasing use of sexist language and misogynistic conduct from boys towards female members of staff and pupils.
A third (34%) of the support staff hear sexist language being used in school, with 7% saying they witness “sexist talk” at school on a daily basis.
Commenting on the findings, which have been released ahead of UNISON’s annual conference this week, general secretary Christina McAnea said: “The danger is that language and behaviour learned at an early age stay with pupils as they become adults and go out into the wider world.
“But clearly schools can't tackle this huge problem on their own. Parents have a proper role to play too. Sexist and demeaning words have no place in the modern class or staffroom.
“The role of misogynist influencers cannot be overstated. A solution must be found before this worrying issue spirals out of control."
UK Feminista works to support schools in addressing sexism and sexual harassment. Its deputy director Nina Humphries added: “It is deeply concerning that misogyny is so normalised in schools. This fuels violence against women and girls and limits the aspirations of all young people.
"These survey results contribute to the abundance of evidence that sexism and sexual harassment are rife in the UK education system. Staff and students alike face this unacceptable behaviour. More must be done to make schools and colleges safer."