Top school head: ‘Look to Harry Potter to call out sexual harassment’ Anna Davis
The head of one of London’s most elite state schools called on pupils to be more like the character Neville Longbottom from the Harry Potter novels and stand up to friends in the light of harassment and assault.
Speaking in the wake of the “Everyone’s Invited” scandal, in which a rape culture in schools was exposed, James Handscombe, Principal of Harris Westminster sixth form, told pupils they must be “socially scrupulous” and call out their friends if they need to.
In a whole school assembly he praised Neville for standing up to his friends Ron and Harry who were breaking school rules, and quoted Hogwarts headmaster Dumbledore saying: “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.”