Our range of strategies to ensure all students remain safe from harm includes the following:

  • recognising the importance of pupil welfare and developing a safe environment where students can raise concerns
  • creating a culture in which all adults accept “it could happen here” so “think the unthinkable” and recognise they are responsible for identifying and acting upon situations where a student may appear to be at risk of abuse or radicalisation
  • developing students’ resilience, self-esteem and self-confidence to share and challenge issues and promoting a set of shared values for the whole school community
  • ensuring the curriculum enables the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of students in a context where respect, dignity, democracy and the rule of law are key features of a modern Britain
  • a clear Online Safety Policy and E-Safety Guidance to ensure students and staff remain safe online
  • an effective approach to dealing with instances of bullying as set out in our Anti-Bullying Policy
  • a clear policy on Tackling Extremism and Radicalisation and a guide for parents on Preventing Radicalisation and Extremism
  • ensuring that we eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation and have an effective approach to bullying
  • an effective Child Protection Policy which sets out clear procedures for dealing with concerns of potential abuse or radicalisation
  • a Designated Senior Lead for child protection in our schools:
    • At ACHS this is Richard Goodman, Head of School - 0191 237 1505 
    • At SSMS this is Karen McSparron, Head of School - 0191 237 0629
    • At WMS this is Kath Lennon, Assistant Headteacher - 0191 237 1402 
  • regular child protection and preventing extremism training for all staff and specialist training for those with lead roles
  • ensuring staff and governors are aware of their roles in ensuring children are safe as advised by the Department for Education in ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’
  • recruiting staff who actively promote the safeguarding of children and young people as we follow safer recruitment practices including a single, central record of recruitment and vetting checks when vacancies arise
  • a clear Code of Conduct for Employees and Volunteers and effective Guidance for Safer Working Practice for Adults Working with Children including our Use of Force to Control or Restrain Pupils Policy
  • an effective Whistleblowing Policy if staff believe that concerns that a child may be at risk of harm have not been acted upon