England schools report record sexual misconduct suspensions

Department for Education figures reveal that sexual misconduct was the reason for 7,278 suspensions in the 2024/25 school year in England, marking a 12% increase from the previous year. This is the highest total recorded since the current tracking method was implemented in 2020.

Notably, 20 suspensions involved children aged five or under, including 19 pupils in the reception year. Primary schools accounted for 759 suspensions and five permanent exclusions. Among secondary school students, those aged 13 and 14 were the most frequent offenders, totaling 1,564 suspensions.

The misconduct categories include sexual assault, abuse, harassment, and lewd behavior directed at either classmates or staff. While overall suspension numbers have fallen, misconduct-related incidents have risen. Educational leaders and organizations have expressed concern regarding the normalization of sexual harassment and the influence of online misogyny on student behavior.