Ministers are facing calls to take “swift and decisive action” on allegations of sexual abuse in schools.

Labour is demanding an independent inquiry after more than 8,000 reports were posted on a website where students can anonymously share their experiences.

The accounts of misogyny, harassment, abuse and assault were shared on the website Everyone’s Invited.

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Soma Sara, the website’s founder, has claimed a “rape culture” is “endemic” within the education system.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has described the claims as “shocking and abhorrent”.

“Any victim of these sickening acts that we’ve seen reported, should raise their concerns with someone they trust, whether that’s a family member or friend, a teacher, social worker, or the police,” he said.

Mr Williamson warned abusers: “We will take appropriate action,” and added: “No school – whether an independent school or state school – should ever be an environment where young people feel unsafe, let alone somewhere that sexual abuse can take place.”

Labour’s shadow education secretary Kate Green and shadow domestic violence and safeguarding minister Jess Phillips have written to Mr Williamson about the issue.

The pair say the government should formulate a national strategy to tackle abuse.

“Swift and decisive action is needed to make sure that the education system is safe for every young person, and that sexist or misogynistic attitudes towards women and girls are stamped out early,” they said.

Ms Green said: “It is extremely concerning to see these reports of sexual harassment and abuse across the education system.

“Ministers have let young people down with their dangerous and irresponsible resistance to calls for a strategy to tackle sexism and sexual harassment in the education system.”

Ms Phillips added: “The government have known the scale of sexual harassment and abuse in schools, colleges and universities for years and have done nowhere near enough to tackle this endemic problem.

“Every student is entitled to an education free from the threat of sexual violence or harassment.”

Speaking to Sky News on Monday, Ms Sora said: “To see this conversation happening on a national stage is incredible.

“We should be prioritising survivors… making sure we are putting them first, listening to them, making sure they are supported and being as empathetic as possible.

“It’s about changing behaviour and changing perceptions….It needs to be a cultural change, because it is a cultural problem.

“I do believe rape culture is everywhere. It exists in all schools, all universities and all of society.”

A top police officer has warned that some schools may have covered up sexual offences in order to protect their reputation.

Simon Bailey, chief constable and lead officer for child protection for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, told The Times he was concerned a “culture of misogyny and sexual harassment” had not been challenged at some of the schools named.

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