RMBC finally comments on sexual harassment in schools issue — after deputy leader’s Advertiser gaffe

ROTHERHAM Borough Council has finally commented on claims male pupils regularly sexually harass their female classmates — more than four months after first being asked by the Advertiser about its approach to the issue.

MP Sarah Champion said in an interview with the paper in March that she was regularly told by female pupils when visiting Rotherham schools that they were harassed by boys, even extending to putting their hands up girls’ skirts.

We approached the borough council to ask for a comment on the MPs’ claims and for details of any guidance, as well as asking every high school for a response.

Neither any school or the council itself responded to these requests — made both verbally and in writing — until last week’s full council meeting, when deputy leader Cllr Gordon Watson publically and incorrectly stated that the Advertiser had not asked for a statement from senior councillors or officials about sexual harassment among students.

He made the false statement when challenged by Brexit Party councillor Allen Cowles, over the lack of a council comment in our article of May 31, which was delayed while schools and the council were contacted again for their views as a follow-up to our initial requests for comment.

Between March and May the Advertiser asked three times for an official statement. This was not forthcoming so we were forced to go ahead without a comment from RMBC (below our story from May).

Cllr Watson went on during last Wednesday’s meeting to finally speak on behalf of the council, saying: “Sexual harassment in schools is just another form of bullying and is completely unacceptable.

“Having spent 36 years in schools, this sort of thing is something it would be stupid to believe you can ever remove completely.

“But just like bullying when it’s found it has to be clamped down on treated with extreme prejudice.

“To be really clear, it’s wrong and must be dealt with and punished and people educated so they don’t continue to act such a way.”

Cllr Watson said seven incidents had been reported in 2018/9, compared to six and five in the previous two academic years.

“I’m not saying seven incidents is acceptable, please don’t anyone take that away, because one incident is completely unacceptable. But it is a small number, which means it’s possible to deal with it,” he said

“Schools are aware and are dealing with it. I know like all incidents of any sort of crime, I know it’s unreported so I’m not saying seven is actually the number but schools are on it and we support them through the safeguarding.

“It’s not acceptable, we are dealing with it but I would urge anyone that has been harassed in any way to report it to the authorities because only then can we as educators deal with it.”

The Advertiser complained to the council about Cllr Watson’s inaccurate comments and the deputy leader has now accepted they were incorrect.

He said: “I believed because of the emails I had seen that the council had not been asked for a comment, however I accept The Advertiser’s view that they were in fact seeking a comment. 

“I was unaware of the full conversation and my comments in council were made in good faith. 

“I hope this limits any confusion this may have caused.”