Children younger than five experiencing sexual harassment

  • A survey from Crimestoppers and the University of Suffolk has found that victims of sexual harassment are being targeted early, with some even younger than five years old.
  • The majority of those who experience sexual harassment encounter it during adolescence or childhood.
  • 1,800 people across the UK took part in the survey. When asked if they considered themselves to be a victim or survivor or sexual harassment, 68.7% responded yes.
  • The largest group of perpetrators were strangers, followed by classmates.
  • Behaviours encountered included unwanted questions about sex lives, staring, leering, being followed or witnessing genital exposure.
  • To learn more, go to the Yahoo website.

Olly Stephens’ dad welcomes online bill change

  • The father of 13-year-old Olly Stephens who was killed by two schoolboys welcomed changes to the bill that could see tech bosses jailed for failing to protect children online.
  • The government conceded to almost 50 Tory MPs for the introduction of two-year sentences for managers who fail to stop children from seeing harmful material.
  • Mr Stephens has said: “I’m pleased to see that compromise has been made because that section of the bill – it’s about accountability for senior management.”
  • For more on this story, please visit the BBC News website.

UK schools build cyber resilience

  • A new cyber security survey from the London Grid for Learning has revealed that schools across the UK are better prepared for cyber-attacks.
  • In collaboration with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), they found that 53% of schools felt prepared for a cyber-attack.
  • They also found that 56% of school leaders and governors felt more informed about the cyber security issues within their schools.
  • The NCSC have also released cyber security e-learning package called “Staying Safe Online: Top Tips for Staff”.
  • For more, go to the NCSC’s website.

Education Authority cuts cannot be delivered, warns unions

  • Teaching unions have said that the proposed cuts to the Education Authority (EA) budget in Northern Ireland, set in November, are unrealistic and cannot be delivered.
  • The unions said that the education system was already in a state of crisis, so they would resist cuts.
  • The current spending trajectory would have to be curtailed, which will affect the block grant of the Education Authority, responsible for the day-to-day funding of schools in NI, according to the Northern Ireland Secretary.
  • It has been reported that the EA may need to find about £100 million in savings from its block grant in the current financial year.
  • For more, go to the Belfast Telegraph’s website.