FIVE Bracknell Forest schools have been named for the first time by a website where students can submit their testimonies and experiences of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment.
The website Everyone's Invited allows current and former pupils to post their harrowing testimonies about their experiences of 'rape culture'.
It comes after Ofsted visited schools across the country on the Government's recommendation after more than 15,000 testimonies of sexual assault, harassment and rape were shared on a website, named "Everyone's Invited", since March 8 this year.
It was set up in June 2020 by a young woman, Soma Sara, who began discussing her experiences of rape culture on her Instagram account and people resonated with her posts.
The website has also released the names of the schools mentioned in the testimonies, "to continue to expose the prevalence of rape culture across all of society", and the list stands at almost 3,000 schools so far.
Worryingly, there are five schools in Bracknell Forest on the Everyone's Invited list.
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These are: Edgbarrow School, Garth Hill College, Ranelagh School, Sandhurst School and Wellington College.
The Ofsted review discovered older teens (aged 16 and above) were more likely to say that sexual harassment and violence, including online, between peers was prevalent than younger students were.
Ofsted inspectors were told that boys are sharing “nudes” among themselves like a “collection game” on platforms such as WhatsApp and Snapchat, while some girls have experienced “unwanted touching in school corridors”.
Amanda Spielman, chief inspector of schools said: “There are very definitely the same issues bleeding down into primary schools from the top down.”
She added that the access to smartphones, social media and online porn over the past decade were “exacerbating factors”.
Ofsted is calling on school and college leaders to develop a culture where all kinds of sexual harassment are recognised and addressed, including with sanctions when appropriate.
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It adds that the time should be allocated in the RSHE curriculum for topics that young people find difficult, such as consent and sharing explicit images.
The Bracknell News contacted all schools mentioned for a comment and Councillor Dr Gareth Barnard, Executive Member for Children, Young People at Bracknell Forest Council responded on their behalf.
He said: “Any allegations of potential crimes in Bracknell Forest schools are taken seriously by the council, and we wholeheartedly stand against such behaviours.
“We work closely with Thames Valley Police on their investigations, and will continue the work we do to support our schools in promoting positive attitudes and behaviours with safeguarding training.”
Ranelagh School, The Sandhurst School and Edgbarrow School responded with their own additional statements with the News awaiting a comment from Garth Hill College and Wellington College.
Stuart Matthews, Headteacher at Edgbarrow School, said: “Everyone’s Invited is a hugely important development, those sharing their testimony are to be applauded for their bravery and for shining a light on an area that absolutely needs to be addressed by society and in particular educational institutions."
Ranelagh has also highly commended students who took to 'courage' to report their testimonies.
Timothy Griffith, Headteacher at Ranelagh School said: "School must be a place where students feel safe and supported, especially with regard to issues related to any form of sexual harassment or exploitation. At Ranelagh School we challenge all inappropriate behaviour using the robust behaviour policies that we have in place.
"Our student support services are extensive and universal giving all students access to a variety of internal and external professionals so that they have a safe space/person with whom to share experiences and, most importantly, from whom they can receive support. Finally, we will continue to work with students to ensure that their views inform any strategy the school adopts to tackle these issues; we are committed to ensuring that their voice is represented. "
Sandhurst School headteacher, Debbie Smith, said: "The safety and well-being of our students are of paramount importance. Schools should be a place where all students, without exception, feel safe, valued, included and accepted.
"At Sandhurst we strive to be proactive in ensuring that this is the case, promoting respect for others and zero tolerance for harassment and discrimination. These themes are promoted through our behaviour policy and are persistently revisited in assemblies and lessons, and explicitly through PSHCE classes.
"This term for example we have planned 2 off-timetable days where students in Years 9 and 10 will be exploring issues of healthy relationships, consent and respect for others. Through our pastoral care system we provide a safe place and individual support to students who have experienced difficulties."
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