LimeCulture was delighted to host an online seminar that brought together more than 30 schools across the country to explore a whole-school approach to preventing and responding to sexual misconduct.
Schools were welcomed to the event by LimeCulture’s Chief Executive Stephanie Reardon, who highlighted the challenges that schools are facing when dealing with these often highly complex and sensitive cases. However, following the explosion of testimonials published on the Everyone’s Invited website in early 2021, and the subsequent rapid review conducted by Ofsted into the level of sexual harassment within our schools and colleges, it is clearer than ever that schools have a crucial role in protecting children and young people from sexual misconduct, both on and off line.
Stephanie emphasised the importance of embedding a whole-school approach that incorporates both prevention and response to sexual misconduct, before handing over to LimeCulture’s Head of Training, Maria Putz, to share learning from developing and piloting LimeCulture’s Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Model.
Seeking to transform their response to incidents of sexual misconduct, over 30 schools are already implementing the SMLO model and almost 80 have engaged in our prevention programmes.
Our whole-school approach to sexual misconduct brings together LimeCulture’s sector-leading SMLO response model that equips schools and colleges to effectively support pupils/students affected by sexual misconduct, with our prevention programme to train teachers to confidently and competently deliver sensitive content to young people on healthy relationships, consent, and other related topics throughout Key Stages 1-5.
Maria began by explaining how critical it is that schools and colleges can respond appropriately, sensitively and consistently to a child who discloses sexual abuse. The role of the SMLO was developed by LimeCulture and piloted with The Perse School in Cambridge in 2021, and embeds a cadre of highly trained staff across the school that have been equipped, through training, to appropriately support reporting and reported pupils/students in an educational setting. Importantly, the SMLO role is designed to complement and integrate with the role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead, and support schools to meet their safeguarding obligations and duties.
Maria went on to explain LimeCulture’s suite of Preventing Sexual Misconduct in Education (PSME) Programmes developed to support teachers and those delivering the RSE curriculum. These programmes are supported by additional resources, lesson plans, and adaptations for teachers of children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Find out how to work with LimeCulture to embed a whole-school approach to sexual misconduct
Embedding the SMLO model in practice
Emma Rothwell, Assistant Head (Inclusion, Equality and Diversity), DSL and Chaplain at The Perse School in Cambridge, then shared her experiences of embedding the SMLO model across her school. Emma outlined some of the key drivers that led The Perse to transform the way they respond to sexual misconduct as a school, as well as offering important insights about some of the challenges they have overcome. Emma explained the positive impacts SMLO support has had on pupils, staff, and the wider school community. Emma reflected on the importance of understanding the power of fear and shame in children’s willingness to disclose sexual misconduct, and emphasised valuing compassion and leadership among both pupils and staff to drive both cultural and system change.
Best practice in dealing with child-on-child abuse
David Smellie and Sophia Coles from Farrer and Co’s Safeguarding Unit discussed key considerations for schools in being proactive when dealing with child-on-child abuse, which are often complex and extremely sensitive. David used a case study to underline the importance of regular risk assessment and ongoing safety planning in such cases, both for the disclosing/reporting child and the alleged perpetrator/reported child. This is particularly important when both children remain in the same school, and where a criminal offence may have been committed and other agencies are involved.
In a wider look at current challenges, Sophia explored strategies to support schools in recognising and positively addressing misogyny. Sophia highlighted the importance of being alert to new and emerging misogynistic trends that may impact both the behaviours and attitudes of boys, and the need for schools to take a robust approach underpinned by sound safeguarding practices to tackle the impact of these attitudes and behaviours.
The Farrer & Co Child-on-Child Abuse Toolkit for schools is available here
Sharing practice
Delegates were encouraged to ask questions throughout the presentations and the questions they asked prompted energetic discussion and further explored how the SMLO role works alongside the Designated Safeguarding Lead in responding to concerns and referring for support; how SMLOs work within the constraints of the criminal justice system; and how social media discussions among pupils about individual cases of sexual misconduct can best be managed.
Prioritising mental health and well-being
Our final speaker, Alicia Drummond from the Wellbeing Hub and founder of Teen Tips, focused on the impacts of sexual misconduct incidents on the mental health of the pupils and staff involved. Alicia provided extremely useful insights into how very important it is for children and young people’s mental health and well-being to feel safe and secure within their school environment. She helpfully outlined some of the indicators of PTSD, making it clear that different individuals will respond differently to traumatic events and the importance of schools taking a trauma-informed approach.
Transforming our response
LimeCulture’s Chief Executive, Stephanie Reardon, said of the event:
“Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to our event today. I was delighted to welcome so many schools to this important discussion of best practice in supporting children and young people who have been affected by sexual misconduct.
“Schools undeniably face huge challenges in dealing with these complex issues day-to-day and play a critical role in building safer cultures for our children, both now and as they move into adulthood. High quality prevention and response work are so very important, and it is fantastic to hear how schools have embraced the SMLO model and prevention programmes, and the huge impact this is now having on pupils’ trust in their school’s approach to sexual misconduct, and the confidence and competence on the part of school staff to respond.”
Contact LimeCulture at schoolsandcolleges@limeculture.co.uk to discuss how we may be able to support you.