How can we tackle sexual assault in schools?
Alarming new research shows one pupil is raped every day at school. Closer investigates what’s fuelling this shocking rise in attacks The epidemic of sexual assaults in our schools
Shannon Rooney S had always enjoyed going to school. Her favourite subject was music, she had plenty of friends and enjoyed performing in school plays. But, aged 15, she was sexually assaulted – and, shockingly, the incident happened at school.
Following the attack, the once outgoing student was left anxious, depressed and unable to eat.
Shannon, now 21, from Falkirk, Scotland, has bravely waived her right to anonymity to help raise awareness.
She says, “I’d always thought school was a safe place, where you are protected. You don’t think something could happen there that will alter your life.
“For a long time afterwards, I didn’t want to leave the house because I was so scared something bad would happen if I did. I left school before my final exams as I couldn’t cope.”
But Shannon’s ordeal is not unique. Shockingly, statistics reveal that on average there is a rape every day in our schools during term time and in the three years up to July 2015, 5,500 sexual assaults in UK schools were reported to police. Meanwhile, nearly one in three 16 to 18 year old girls has been touched in a way that’s made them feel uncomfortable.
ONLINE PORN
Laura Bates, founder of Everyday Sexism and author of Girl Up, says the epidemic of sexual assaults in our playgrounds is extremely worrying, but there are things we can do to protect our children.
She says, “I get thousands of messages from girls and have visited hundreds of schools, where they’ve told me about their experiences.
“There are many reasons behind it – women are sexualised and objectified in the media and online porn is a huge problem – 25 per cent of under12s have seen it and it gives them a very distorted view of sex.
“The key to halting it is education and talking about issues of consent in an open and informed way.”
Shannon’s assault came out of the blue in January 2013. She’d gone to the school music room after an exam to print off some work, when a fellow student in her year followed her.
Shannon says, “He was a boy who I knew to talk to, but no more than that. He grabbed me in the music room and tried to kiss and touch me. Then he dragged me into a store room. He was so violent, my wrists were bruised.
“He started undoing the buttons on my shirt, and pulling down my tights. I tried to push him off, but I wasn’t strong enough. He masturbated and ejaculated on my tights. While he was zipping himself back up, I managed to escape.”
That afternoon, Shannon told a friend, who encouraged her to report the incident. The next day she told the headteacher, who informed her mother and stepfather. Police were contacted, investigations followed and the boy wasn’t allowed back to school. Shannon also stayed off for a couple of weeks.
But, shockingly, on her return to school she was ostracised and bullied.
She says, “Other pupils would come up to me and say he would never have assaulted me as I was fat and ugly. And I was asked if I was the girl that was nearly raped in a cupboard.”
TRUST ISSUES
Around a year later the case went to court but, astonishingly, the judge dismissed it, saying it was a “matter of perception”. Shannon appealed and the boy was given community service and was placed on the sex offenders register.
Despite her ordeal, Shannon doesn’t regret reporting it.
She says, “Sexual assault in school happens more than people think. Victims need to be encouraged to speak out – it’s the only way we’ll
see a change.”
Jane*, now 18, bitterly regrets not reporting the boy who assaulted her four years ago. She was at her school playing field, “skiving” a lesson with a boy she thought was her friend. Then he suddenly pinned her down and started kissing her.
She remembers, “It seemed to last for ages. I eventually managed to push him off and went back to my lessons as normal.
“I tried to put it in a box and think it was just one of those things where a boy got overenthusiastic. I didn’t tell anyone, as I was worried about getting into trouble for skiving lessons.
“But it affected me. I couldn’t bring myself to trust boys afterwards and became withdrawn. It took two years before I felt strong enough to tell my mum and it was a huge relief. She made me realise that he was in the wrong for trying to force me into doing something – even if that was just kissing.
“We decided not to report it as I’d left the school by then and it felt too late, but I still get flashbacks. Sexual contact that isn’t consensual needs to be reported and acted on. I wish I’d had the courage to report it.”
❛I TRIED TO PUSH HIM OFF, BUT I WASN’T SRONG ENOUGH❜