“EVERY pupil must feel safe to speak out” about sexual misconduct after stark figures show multiple exclusions in schools. Figures from the Department of Education show Southend schools temporarily excluded students five times for sexual misconduct between 2018 and 2019, which was one more than the year before. Exclusions happened in four secondary schools and one primary school. Across the rest of Essex there were 53 exclusions, down from 55 in the year before, with 49 happening in secondary-schools. The figures come after the government launched a review into sexual abuse in schools following thousands of testimonies from students claiming to be victims online. The website Everyone’s Invited has more than 14,000 posts from children as young as nine detailing alleged sexual abuse at school or university.
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Philip Hurst, headteacher of Thomas Mills High School in Framlingham, said the preparations by staff were remarkable
Suffolk and north Essex headteachers have said schools are well-versed and prepared for a safe reopening as coronavirus lockdown measures are lifted on March 8.
Prime minister Boris Johnson announced earlier this week all students will return to classrooms next month in the first step of England s roadmap out of restrictions.
As part of the plans, students at secondary schools and colleges will be given Covid-19 tests three times in the first two weeks.
But the National Education Union (NEU) has said the government is not following scientific advice and has called for students to return in phases to prevent future closures.