Tackling harmful sexual behaviour in schools: Implementing evidence-based practice for safeguarding leads

"Tackling harmful sexual behaviour in schools: Implementing evidence-based practice for safeguarding leads"

Are you a teacher, designated safeguarding lead, pastoral lead, or school nurse navigating the emotional and practical realities of safeguarding harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) in schools?

Join a timely and practical online workshop that will offer the opportunity to engage with new, research-led frameworks for understanding and responding to HSB among young people. Discover insights from a three-year research project exploring how schools respond to harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) among young people. Explore how to make safeguarding more relational, preventative, and ethically grounded.

“By sharing research-based insights into relational, youth-informed approaches to safeguarding, the workshop aims to engender critical reflection, offer practical strategies and help build professional confidence in responding to HSB in ways that go beyond compliance to promote wellbeing, trust and cultural change.”
— Dr Emily Setty

What the session will cover:

• A practical, research-informed safeguarding framework developed through the Everyone’s Safer project
• Insights into building trusting, trauma-informed cultures that go beyond reactive or punitive approaches
• Guidance for managing interagency safeguarding challenges and the emotional toll
• Case examples from schools trialling restorative and student-led responses
• Space for reflective, interactive discussion with peers

Who are the speakers?

Dr Emily Setty - Associate Professor in Sociology, University of Surrey
Emily specialises in young people’s experiences of sexuality, relationships, and risk, with a particular focus on harmful sexual behaviour and the emotional dimensions of safeguarding. Her work advocates for approaches that centre young people’s voices and challenge overly procedural, compliance-driven practices.

Laura Nott, Practitioner-Researcher, Lucy Faithfull Foundation. Laura brings frontline experience from working directly with schools on safeguarding strategy and co-led the Everyone’s Safer project. Her expertise bridges research and practice, offering valuable insight into the realities of managing HSB in under-resourced and high-pressure environments.

Who should attend?

• Secondary school teachers and DSLs
• Pastoral staff and school nurses
• Youth workers and safeguarding professionals in education, health, or social care
• Education leaders and multi-agency partners seeking to enhance safeguarding culture

Whether you’re seeking reassurance, fresh insight, or ready-to-use ideas, this session will offer practical support, critical reflection, and community.

Spaces are limited - register now to secure your place. For further information, contact: emily.setty@surrey.ac.uk

The workshop is free to attend, and is running as part of the Economic and Social Research Council Festival of Social Science 2025.

See our full programme of events here: Buy tickets – University of Surrey

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