Police receive report of child rape at schools in England and Wales EVERY DAY on average, shocking figures reveal
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The scale of child-on-child sexual violence in primary and secondary schools in England and Wales has been revealed in a bombshell investigation.
On average police received reports of nearly five sexual crimes against children aged 12 and younger every single day, according to reports.
At least 8,500 sexual offences against children aged 13 or under were logged by police between 2021 and 2025 - the equivalent to 4.7 per day.
That includes 2,000 alleged rapes and attempted rapes over the same time period, which works out as one rape allegation at a school in England and Wales each day. More than one in three of the rape victims were under 13.
The extent of the problem was revealed via a series of freedom of information requests to the 43 police forces across England and Wales, 33 of which responded.
The majority of the police reports did not state the age of the accused but they are most likely to be fellow pupils.
The Children's Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, said child-on-child sexual abuse in schools was 'widespread, normalised and too often brushed under the carpet'.
Dame Rachel de Souza, Children's Commissioner for England, said: 'I knew from my time as a headteacher that there was a serious issue around sexual harassment and abuse in schools.
On average police received reports of nearly five sexual crimes against children aged 12 and younger every single day (stock photo)
'But what I heard as I listened to young people shocked me. Children were viewing violent pornography, it was changing behaviour and peer-on-peer abuse was widespread, normalised and too often brushed under the carpet.
“We have taken important steps in the last few years – from work to bring highly skilled professionals together under one roof to care for child victims of abuse to action to prevent children access pornography and a focus on evidence-based relationships education that addresses the realities of teenagers’ lives.
'But as these figures show we have a long way to go. This is not simply a “school” or “college” issue, it is a societal one.
'We need to address the causes – harmful sexual behaviours are increasingly shaped by the content and cultures that children are exposed to online.
'And we need to urgently improve what happens when young victims of sexual assaults speak out and their experience of the justice system, and make sure they get the support they need.'
The Guardian reported that aside from rape and attempted rape, the data also includes reports of an additional 6,140 crimes that involve the possession, taking, making or distribution of indecent or prohibited images of children under 18.
The newspaper also reported that in at least 1,890 of the reported sexual offences committed against victims against under-13s, the perpetrator was described as under 18.
Girls were also predominantly the victims in the cases in which gender was specified, with nearly two out of three of the sexual crimes against under-13s committed against females.
A government spokesperson called the figures 'appalling' and pointed to schools' statutory duty to respond to sexual violence and harassment.
They added: 'No child should be unsafe at school, and no child should have to carry this alone. That is why schools' duty to respond to sexual violence and harassment is now statutory, and why staff are trained to spot concerns early and support victims.
'As part of our strategy to halve violence against women and girls, we have pledged to make sure all young people are taught about healthy relationships and consent from an early age – and we've forced tech companies to tackle harmful content and protect young people online through the Online Safety Act.'
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