Safeguarding

Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. Safeguarding means protecting children from abuse and maltreatment, preventing harm to children’s health or development, ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care, and taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes.

At Fitzharrys School, we recognise our moral, ethical and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of students. We are fully committed to ensuring that consistent and effective safeguarding procedures are in place to support families, young people and staff at school.

Everyone has a responsibility to keep children and young people safe. If you have any safeguarding concerns relating to the safety and welfare of a child at Fitzharrys School, you should contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead or in their absence one of the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads. When we receive concerns, they will be logged and as appropriate passed on to external agencies for additional support, this may include social care via The Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub or The Locality Community Support Service (LCSS), NHS colleagues, Thames Valley Police or local support such as The Abingdon Hub

If you think a child is in immediate danger, this should be reported to Thames Valley Police via 999. Concerns can also be reported to the Oxfordshire Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), telephone: 0345 050 7666. If you are concerned that a child you know is being sexually exploited, contact the Kingfisher Team on 01865 309196.

Further to the recent concerns nationally about peer-on-peer abuse and sexual abuse/sexual assault in schools and colleges we have developed in partnership with other school in the Abingdon Learning Trust a supporting case management flowchart and case information map. All concerns must be reported to the DSL and Deputy DSL’s so that appropriate support and follow up may be instigated. In addition to this in school support a NSPCC helpline is available to offer support and guidance for anyone affected and can be accessed by the following methods: Phone 0800 136 663, or by emailing help@nspcc.org.uk.

Any safeguarding concerns relating to the behaviour of a member of staff should be immediately reported to the Headteacher, who will inform the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). If concerns are about the Headteacher, they should be reported to the Chair of Local Academy Board and the Director of Secondary Education.

For further safeguarding guidance and information, please visit our Policies page.

Visit our Safeguarding Contacts page for information on Fitzharrys' Safeguarding Leads. 

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.