Hanley Castle High School and Sixth Form Centre is wholly committed to ensuring that all students at risk are cared for in a safe and secure environment. We believe that it is always unacceptable for a child or young person to experience abuse of any kind. We recognise our responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all and strive to ensure our students are safe at school, at home, online and in the wider community.
To fulfill this commitment, a number of safeguarding arrangements are in place.
We will ensure all policies and procedures in respect of safeguarding children are up to date and in line with the latest Keeping Children Safe in Education publication. The policies accessible to all staff are reviewed and revised by the School and HUET on a regular basis.
Read our Child protection and safeguarding policy here.
Keeping Children Safe in Education (Part 1)
Keeping Children Safe in Education (full document)
Safeguarding Children in Education
Hanley Castle High School and Sixth Form Centre meets statutory requirements in relation to Disclosure & Barring Service – all staff and volunteers who work with the school meet the ‘regulated activity test’ (Freedoms Act 2012) are required to undergo an enhanced DBS check prior to employment. Safeguarding Leaflet for Volunteers & Visitors
The school has a team of trained designated safeguarding leads who support pupils across the whole school. This safeguarding team and their contact details can be found here.
The Governor with responsibility for child protection is Beulah Pope.
All eligible staff and volunteers are required to undertake relevant safeguarding training and this is regularly reviewed to ensure it is up to date. A training database for all staff and volunteers is maintained. Staff and volunteers are provided with guidance to follow when they suspect a child may be experiencing abuse or is at risk of harm. We work cooperatively with other agencies to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. We ensure that our concerns about our students are discussed with parents/carers first – unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare.
Hanley Castle High School and Sixth Form Centre has robust audit checklists to ensure that safeguarding systems and processes are working. The audit includes: the monitoring of School’s Single Central Record, the monitoring of Child Protection Policies and Procedures including, ‘Allegations against Professionals’ and the monitoring of training for all employees and volunteers, guidance and support. The School also undertakes the Local Authority Audit in September each year.