Mixed Methods study on Role of residential Schools in Safeguarding Children from Sexual Abuse

4.1 The overarching aim of the research is to explore how child sexual abuse in residential schools in England and Wales is understood, prevented, identified/disclosed, recorded, reported and responded to. The research will also explore what constitutes good practice in the prevention, identification, reporting of and response to child sexual abuse in residential schools. 4.2 The research covers both child sexual abuse happening within a residential school context (e.g. on residential school premises, related to activities run by the residential school or involving residential school staff) as well as residential schools' role in safeguarding children from child sexual abuse which happens outside of the school context (such as in the home). As the research is seeking to explore the specific context of residential schools, the project should, as far as is practicable, focus on the experiences of residential pupils as opposed to day pupils in residential schools - taking into account the interactions between the two. 4.3 The requirement seeks to cover: 4.3.1 Prevention and identification of child sexual abuse in residential schools 4.3.2 Recording and reporting practices for child sexual abuse in residential schools 4.3.3 Response to child sexual abuse in residential schools 4.3.4 Securing ethical approval 4.3.5 Liaison with relevant external stakeholders 4.3.6 Case study selection 4.3.7 Mixed methods approach 4.3.8 Survey of residential schools on recorded incidents of child sexual abuse 4.3.9 Qualitative interviews and focus groups in residential schools and local authorities 4.3.10 Methodology 4.3.11 Analysis 4.3.12 Reporting 4.3.13 Dissemination and outputs