A Guardian investigation has revealed thousands of child-on-child sexual offences, including multiple rapes, reported to police in schools across England and Wales between 2021 and 2025, prompting condemnation from lawyers and campaigners.
Key facts
- An average of nearly five sexual crimes a day against under-13s were reported to police between 2021 and 2025.
- The offences occurred in primary and secondary schools in England and Wales.
- Reported crimes ranged from unwanted touching to rape, including multiple rapes.
- The findings are based on Guardian analysis of police data.
- Lawyers and campaigners described the scale as 'horrifying'.
A Guardian investigation has uncovered what it describes as a “horrifying” scale of child-on-child sexual abuse in schools across England and Wales, with thousands of sexual offences against children aged 12 and younger reported to police each year.
According to the Guardian’s analysis of police data covering 2021 to 2025, close to five sexual crimes against under-13s were recorded on average by police every day in primary and secondary schools in the two nations.
The reported offences spanned a wide range of severity, from unwanted touching to rape, with the investigation noting that multiple rapes were among the crimes recorded during the period.
Lawyers and campaigners have condemned the findings, according to the Guardian, describing the scale of child-on-child abuse revealed by the data as deeply concerning.
The figures reflect crimes that were recorded by police specifically in school settings, offering a snapshot of the problem within educational environments across England and Wales over the five-year window examined.
Why it matters
The findings point to a widespread safeguarding issue affecting young children in schools, raising questions about how educational settings protect pupils. For parents, educators and policymakers, the scale of reported offences underscores the urgency of effective prevention and support measures.
Frequently asked questions
How many child-on-child sexual offences were reported in schools?
According to the Guardian's analysis of police data, an average of nearly five sexual crimes a day against children aged 12 and younger were recorded in primary and secondary schools in England and Wales between 2021 and 2025.
What types of offences were included?
The reported offences ranged from unwanted touching to rape, including multiple rapes, according to the Guardian investigation.
What time period does the data cover?
The Guardian's analysis covers police data from 2021 to 2025.