NLJ this week: Sexual abuse in school―adopting a zero tolerance approach

For lawyers, this raises questions of what safeguarding and legal duties schools and educational establishments owe pupils and students, and what they can do to support those who rely on them for protection. In NLJ this week Sara Ibrahim and Adam Riley of 3 Hare Court consider the law and highlight the difficulties victims may have in speaking out.

They write: ‘Schools and colleges should adopt a proactive approach to safeguarding and sexual assault prior to the new academic year. Children and their parents or carers should feel empowered to seek redress, by formal claim or otherwise, with the new guidance making it clear that tackling harmful sexual behaviour in schools is a renewed priority.’