Written by Gloria Ngatha
Thousands of sexual offences involving children were reported in and around schools across England and Wales between 2021 and 2025, according to police data.
At least 8,500 offences involving children aged 12 and below were recorded during the five-year period. This amounts to about 4.7 reports each day. The figures included nearly 2,000 reports of rape or attempted rape.
Girls made up almost two-thirds of the victims under the age of 13 in cases where the victim’s sex was recorded. Police records showed that at least 1,890 people accused in the cases were under 18. However, many records did not state the age of the alleged offender, so it is not clear how many cases involved fellow pupils.
The figures also included 2,300 sexual offences involving children aged between 13 and 16. A further 9,100 offences involved people aged 13 or older and were recorded as taking place in or near schools.
Police forces recorded another 6,140 offences involving the possession, making, taking or sharing of illegal images involving children under 18.
Experts have linked the growing use of artificial intelligence, deepfakes and harmful online content to new risks for children. The Internet Watch Foundation reported that it had assessed thousands of AI-generated images showing child sexual abuse during the first half of 2026.
The figures were obtained through Freedom of Information requests sent to police forces by The Guardian. Only 33 of the 43 police forces in England and Wales provided data, meaning the actual number of offences could be higher.
The police forces also used different methods to record the cases. Some searched police notes for references to schools, which means that some offences may have been recorded as school-related even when they happened elsewhere.
The data does not always show the relationship between the victim and the accused or whether an incident occurred during school hours. It also does not provide a complete picture of the circumstances surrounding each case.
The UK government’s 2026 Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance states that safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility. It requires schools and colleges to follow safeguarding procedures, respond to concerns and place children’s welfare first.
Police leaders and children’s organisations have called for age-appropriate lessons on respect, consent, healthy relationships and online safety. They have also called for better staff training, stronger support for families and improved protection for children online.
Children’s Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza has warned that abuse between young people can sometimes be ignored or treated as normal. She has called for stronger action to protect children and respond to reports of abuse and harassment.