Governors' role in preventing peer-on-peer abuse

Last reviewed on 1 September 2021
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 39019

Abuse between peers can take many forms, including bullying, physical abuse and sexual harassment. Use the guidance below and example questions to help your school leaders develop a culture where abuse is not tolerated, and understand how to monitor what your school puts in place.

Article tools

Contents

  1. Understand what peer-on-peer abuse is 
  2. Develop a culture where abuse is recognised but not tolerated
  3. Appropriate staff training is essential
  4. Challenge inappropriate behaviours
  5. Make sure your school has a preventative curriculum programme
  6. School leaders should know your school's context and work with local partners
  7. Questions to ask school leaders
  8. Next steps

Understand what peer-on-peer abuse is 

Bullying (including cyber-bullying, prejudice-based and discriminatory bullying) Abuse in intimate personal relationships between peers Physical abuse such as hitting, kicking, shaking, biting, hair pulling or otherwise causing physical harm Sexual violence, such as rape, assault by penetration and sexual assault Sexual harassment, such as sexual comments, remarks, jokes and online sexual harassment, which may be stand-alone or part of a broader pattern of abuse Causing someone to engage in sexual activity without consent, such as forcing someone to strip, touch themselves sexually, or to engage in sexual activity with a third party Consensual and non-consensual sharing of nudes and semi-nude images and or videos (also known as sexting or youth-produced sexual imagery) Upskirting, which typically involves taking a picture under a person’s clothing without their permission, with the intention of viewing their genitals or buttocks to obtain sexual gratification,

Read next

Also in 'Safeguarding'