Published on October 27, 2026, a statistical survey by the French Ministry of Education’s Directorate for Evaluation, Forecasting and Performance (DEPP) reveals that 42% of second-year primary (CE2) pupils report experiencing sexual violence at school, with 22% indicating unwanted physical contact and an equal proportion reporting voyeurism in restrooms.
The Bottom Line
- High Exposure for Youngest Pupils: 42% of CE2 students report experiencing at least one form of sexual violence within their educational establishment, compared to lower overall rates across older primary cohorts.
- Prevalent Physical and Verbal Aggression: Across all surveyed primary levels, 36% of students state they frequently encounter general school violence, most commonly social ostracization at 48% and verbal insults at 43%.
- Reporting Deficits: Only 37% of victims communicate these incidents to an authority figure or peer during the school year, primarily turning to parents at 60% or teachers at 54%.
DEPP Spring 2025 Survey Scope and Methodology
The statistical division of the Ministry of National Education published its findings based on fieldwork conducted during the spring of 2025. The research sampled 11,200 pupils spanning CE2, CM1, and CM2 classes across both public institutions and private schools operating under contract (lunion.fr). While the study maps the frequency of aggressive acts, the published data does not specify the exact age distribution of the perpetrators operating within the school environments.
When looking at the broad category of sexual aggression, one-third of all surveyed students across CE2, CM1, and CM2 (34%) report encountering at least one incident (lunion.fr). When disaggregated by gender, boys and girls declare being targeted by these specific forms of misconduct in comparable proportions. However, the data highlights that vulnerability to specific harassment types varies noticeably by age and demographic factors.
Detailed Breakdown of CE2 Vulnerability and General Aggression Metrics
Youngest cohorts bear the highest recorded incidence rates across multiple categories of misconduct. For instance, 29% of CE2 pupils assert that someone attempted to kiss, touch, or caress them without consent, while 28% report being subjected to voyeuristic acts inside school restrooms. General violence indicators show that 36% of all respondents face frequent infractions, led by peer exclusion at 48%, mockery or insults at 43%, and deliberate shoving at 38%.
| Type of School Violence Reported | CE2 Pupil Share | Overall Primary Average |
|---|---|---|
| Any Form of Sexual Violence Experienced | 42% | 34% |
| Attempted Unwanted Touching or Kissing | 29% | 22% |
| Voyeurism in Restrooms | 28% | 22% |
| Deliberate Shoving | 45% | 38% |
| Physical Blows Sustained | 35% | N/A |
Physical altercations similarly skew toward younger classes. Deliberate shoving affects 45% of CE2 students, compared to 38% in CM1 and 32% in CM2. Similarly, 35% of CE2 pupils state they have been struck by others, a metric that drops to 27% among CM1 students and 23 for those in CM2.
Cyberviolence and Motivations Behind Verbal Harassment
Beyond physical and in-person behavioral infractions, digital exposure impacts a substantial minority of primary students. Nearly two out of ten pupils, or 19%, report encountering cyberviolence (lunion.fr). Specifically, 16% note receiving hostile messages via telephone, social media networks, or online gaming platforms, while 7% indicate that messages or photographs concerning them were distributed without their explicit consent.
Insults and verbal teasing concentrate primarily on clothing choices, affecting 12% of children, and physical appearance, cited by 11%. Gender-based targeting also emerges in the ministry data, particularly among female students. Among girls, 9% state they experienced gender-targeted insults, compared to 4% of boys.
Communication Channels for Victims
Among the student population confirming exposure to at least one aggressive incident throughout the academic calendar, only 37% state they communicated the event to an individual. When children choose to break their silence, they direct disclosures primarily toward family members, with 60% speaking to parents. Instructors represent the second major channel at 54%, followed by peers and friends at 41%.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
