Overview

An investigation by the Guardian has revealed a disturbing trend of child-on-child sexual offences in schools across England and Wales. Between 2021 and 2025, police reported an average of nearly five sexual crimes daily against children under 13, highlighting the alarming scale of abuse occurring in educational settings.

Key Findings

  • Close to 5 sexual crimes against children aged 12 and younger were recorded daily.
  • Nearly 2,000 rapes and attempted rapes were reported, averaging one allegation of rape per day.
  • Over 8,500 sexual offences against under-13s occurred on school premises or nearby during this period.
  • More than 1,890 offences involved perpetrators described as under 18.
  • Girls were disproportionately affected, making up nearly two-thirds of the victims where gender was documented.

Reactions

Dame Rachel de Souza, the children’s commissioner for England, condemned the findings, stating that peer-on-peer abuse is "widespread, normalised and too often brushed under the carpet." She emphasized the need for societal change, saying:

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"We have taken important steps in the last few years, but as these figures show we have a long way to go. This is not simply a school or college issue, it is a societal one."

Andrew Lord, a partner at Leigh Day solicitors, representing survivors of sexual abuse, remarked on the findings: