Exclusions for sexual misconduct at Lancashire’s schools have risen, figures reveal.

But charity Rape Crisis said the figures do not show the true scale of sexual abuse inside schools, following thousands of allegations by students across England.

Department for Education figures show Lancashire schools excluded students 31 times for sexual misconduct in 2018-19 – two permanently and 29 temporarily.

This was an increase on the year before, when there were 18.​

Of the exclusions in 2018-19, the majority (22) occurred in state-funded secondary schools, six in special schools and three in primary schools.

They were among 1,972 sexual misconduct exclusions – which include incidents of sexual abuse, sexual bullying and sexual harassment – across England that year.

Though a 13 per cent drop on the year before, Rape Crisis said the number of exclusions will not show the true scale of sexist bullying and sexual violence being perpetrated in schools, particularly against girls.

Katie Russell, national spokeswoman for the charity, added: “We’ve known for a number of years about the high prevalence and serious impacts of sexual violence and abuse in schools.

“The Women and Equalities Select Committee published a comprehensive report into this issue with clear recommendations back in 2016, some of which are yet to be implemented.

“No-one in the Government can claim not to have known about this situation and action clearly should have been taken before now.”

More than 14,000 testimonies have been posted on the Everyone’s Invited website, where pupils can anonymously share their experiences of abuse and assault.

Some students have accused their establishments of not tackling a “rape culture”.

Website founder Soma Sara said the number of students who have the confidence to report incidences of sexual misconduct pales in comparison to the number who have suffered.

The Government announced an immediate review into sexual abuse in schools in the wake of the allegations, while an NSPCC helpline and an Ofsted review were also launched.

A Government spokeswoman said: “Where schools do not meet the strict safeguarding standards that we have in place, we will take swift action and we will always back headteachers to remove a pupil from the classroom where this creates a calm and disciplined environment.

“We would encourage anyone who is aware of any specific incidents – and feels comfortable reporting their concerns – to do so.”

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "Lancashire schools take incidents of sexual misconduct very seriously and have a robust approach to dealing with them, which includes excluding students when appropriate.

"We work closely with Lancashire schools to ensure they have the knowledge, training and procedures in place to safeguard all aspects of children's welfare, including dealing appropriately with incidents of sexual misconduct which take place within school, and supporting students who may have been affected by an incident outside of school.

"Our dedicated safeguarding teams work with the lead officers in every school whose role is to oversee the management of children's wellbeing and ensure any issues identified are recognised and responded to in the proper way.

"Our Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub also works alongside partners to ensure all organisations take a joined-up approach to safeguarding, and act as a first point of contact for any school which has a query, or needs advice, about any issue."