Thousands of child-on-child sexual offences recorded in England and Wales schools

LONDON, 5 OCTOBER 2026 —

Thousands of Child-on-Child Sexual Offences Reported in English and Welsh Schools, Reveals Staggering Scale of Abuse

An average of nearly five sexual crimes against children aged 12 and younger were reported to police every day in English and Welsh schools between 2021 and 2025, according to an exclusive analysis by The Guardian, exposing a systemic crisis of child-on-child abuse that includes hundreds of rapes and the proliferation of indecent images involving minors.

The data, obtained through freedom of information requests, reveals that at least 8,500 sexual offences—ranging from unwanted touching to rape—were recorded on school premises or nearby over the five-year period, with girls disproportionately affected and perpetrators often under 18.

The scale of the problem has prompted condemnation from child protection advocates, who describe the figures as a "national crisis" that demands urgent action from schools, policymakers, and tech companies. While the government has introduced statutory safeguarding measures and online safety laws, critics argue these steps remain insufficient in the face of rising digital threats, including AI-generated deepfakes and the spread of harmful content.

The findings also raise questions about whether schools are adequately equipped to prevent abuse, given that many cases involve peer perpetrators—meaning predators are often classmates rather than external threats.

A Crisis of Unprecedented Proportions The analysis, covering 33 of the 43 police forces in England and Wales, found that almost 2,000 rapes and attempted rapes were reported in school-related settings over the five years—equivalent to one allegation of rape at a school every day. More than a third of these victims were under 13, with girls accounting for two-thirds of reported cases where the victim’s sex was documented.

The data also included 6,140 offences involving the possession, creation, or distribution of indecent images of children under 18, a figure that has surged with the rise of digital platforms and artificial intelligence.

While most reports did not specify the age of the offender, at least 1,890 cases involved perpetrators under 18, reinforcing concerns that abuse is largely peer-driven. The true extent of the problem may be even greater, as the analysis excludes data from 10 police forces that did not respond to freedom of information requests, and some cases may have been recorded without explicit school location details.

Government and Authorities Respond, But Critics Demand More The UK government described the figures as "appalling" and pointed to recent policy changes, including the statutory duty on schools to address sexual violence and harassment, mandatory training for staff, and the Online Safety Act, which requires tech companies to remove harmful content. A government spokesperson stated:

"No child should be unsafe at school, and no child should have to carry this alone. That is why schools’ duty to respond to sexual violence and harassment is now statutory, and why staff are trained to spot concerns early and support victims. As part of our strategy to halve violence against women and girls, we have pledged to ensure all young people are taught about healthy relationships and consent from an early age."

However, child protection experts and campaigners dismissed such measures as insufficient. Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children’s Commissioner for England, called peer-on-peer abuse "widespread, normalised, and too often brushed under the carpet", adding that while progress had been made, "we have a long way to go." She framed the issue as "not simply a school problem, but a societal one."

Andrew Lord, a partner at Leigh Day solicitors who represents abuse survivors, said the data "evidences clearly the horrifying true scale of sexual abuse of children within schools." He accused authorities of failing to act decisively, stating that "parents deserve to know their children are safe while undertaking their education, and anything short of concrete action is simply not good enough."

The Digital Dimension: AI, Deepfakes, and Online Exploitation The rise of AI-generated deepfakes and the spread of indecent images have exacerbated the problem, with schools struggling to keep pace. Soma Sara, founder of the Everyone’s Invited campaign, noted that while "rape culture" in schools is now widely acknowledged, the online environment presents unprecedented challenges.

She warned that "the proliferation of violent pornography and the increasing harms young people are exposed to online are creating challenges that are incredibly difficult for teachers to keep pace with."

School leaders have also expressed frustration. Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, called the prevalence of these incidents "simply appalling" and urged the government to "go further in regulating online platforms." Headteachers have begun implementing phone bans and social media restrictions, but campaigners argue these measures are reactive rather than preventive.

Regional Variations and Rising Trends Excluding 2021, when schools were closed for parts of the year due to COVID-19, the rate of sexual offences increased by 4% outside London between 2022 and 2025. The figures rose from 26.6 offences per 100,000 children under 13 in 2022 to 27.6 in 2025, suggesting a persistent upward trend.

The data also showed that 2,300 sexual crimes were reported against children aged 13 to 16, with 9,100 additional offences involving those 13 or older—three-quarters of which had female victims.

Police and Campaigners Call for a "Whole-System" Approach Becky Riggs, the acting chief constable leading on child protection for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, acknowledged that the numbers were "deeply concerning" but suggested they may also reflect greater reporting and victim confidence. She emphasized the need for "prevention through age-appropriate education, digital resilience, and stronger safeguarding measures."

Janaya Walker, interim director of the End Violence Against Women (EVAW) campaign, stated that the data was "shocking but sadly not surprising" and underscored the "urgent need to protect children from sexual violence at school." She criticized the government for failing to act decisively despite multiple "watershed moments" where action was possible.

Malaysia and Regional Implications: A Warning for Southeast Asia While the crisis is centered in England and Wales, the findings serve as a stark warning for Southeast Asia, where similar issues of child sexual abuse, online exploitation, and peer-on-peer violence have been documented in schools across the region. In Malaysia, recent reports have highlighted growing concerns over cyberbullying, sextortion, and the misuse of digital platforms by minors, with authorities struggling to implement comprehensive safeguarding policies.

The UK’s experience underscores the need for proactive measures, including: - Mandatory child safety training for educators and staff. - Stronger regulations on tech companies to prevent the spread of harmful content. - Public awareness campaigns to encourage reporting without fear of stigma. - School-based prevention programs on consent, healthy relationships, and digital safety.

The Path Forward: What Must Be Done? The UK government’s response—while acknowledging the severity of the issue—has been met with skepticism from advocates, who argue that statutory duties and training alone are insufficient. Key demands include: 1. Independent oversight of school safeguarding policies. 2. Stricter penalties for perpetrators, including those under 18. 3. Expanded support for victims, including counseling and legal aid. 4. Collaboration with tech firms to develop real-time monitoring tools for harmful content.

5. National campaigns to destigmatize reporting and encourage early intervention.

As the UK grapples with this crisis, the findings serve as a global wake-up call, particularly for nations where digital literacy and school safety protocols remain underdeveloped. Without immediate, coordinated action, the trend of child-on-child sexual abuse in educational settings risks worsening, with long-term psychological and social consequences for an entire generation.