Social Safety in the State of Education 2023

Sense of safety

In the State of Education 2023, the Inspectorate notes that the sense of safety among primary and secondary school students has declined in recent years. For example, the number of reports of sexual harassment and sexual abuse increased. At the Advice Centre of School & Veiligheid, we have also seen an increase in the number of questions, particularly about sexually transgressive behaviour.

Stichting School & Veiligheid supports schools in creating a sexually respectful and safe school climate. For example, the guideline As Small as Possible, as Large as Necessary provides school leaders with points for attention regarding the prevention, handling and remediation of transgressive behaviour. School leaders who want to develop policies on sexual integrity can use the SGG prevention tool. This enables them to bring their school policies concerning sexually transgressive behaviour and a safe school climate up to standard in a practical way.

Safety policy

Good safety policy forms the foundation for a socially safe school climate. That is why we will soon be launching an entirely new Digital Safety Plan. Schools can use this tool to work on their school safety plan. In the Digital Safety Plan, schools can collect and describe everything involved in their safety plan. In addition, the Digital Safety Plan provides insight into legislation and tools that schools can use to work towards a socially safe climate.

Strengthening citizenship education

The State of Education shows that attention to and awareness of the importance of citizenship have increased. Many schools and school boards indicate that they are working on their vision and mapping out their educational provision, but that concrete objectives are still lacking.

To support schools in this, Stichting School & Veiligheid participates in the Citizenship Expertise Centre. One of the Expertise Centre’s objectives is to promote purposeful, systematic and recognisable citizenship education, with the school serving as a safe place for practice. Through its website, newsletters and annual magazine, the Expertise Centre provides information to school boards, school leaders, coordinators and teachers in primary, secondary and vocational education.