Safeguarding

The Trust is committed to providing the highest standard of education for all students based on equality of access and opportunity. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined for the purposes of our approach as:

  • protecting children from maltreatment;

  • preventing impairment of children’s health or development;

  • ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care;

  • and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

 

The Trust believes that all young people:

  • have the right to be protected from harm and/ or abuse;

  • have the opportunity to develop fully;

  • have their basic needs met.

The Teachers’ Standards 2012 state that teachers, including Headteachers, should safeguard children’s wellbeing and maintain public trust in the teaching profession as part of their professional duties. All Trust and School staff have a responsibility to provide a safe environment in which children can learn. The Trust provides appropriate training to ensure that all staff are able to carry out this essential duty.

 

General responsibilities for safeguarding

Across the Trust, the Trust Board is responsible for safeguarding procedures and practices. The Trust Board has a nominated Trustee who acts as the nominated Safeguarding Trustee. Further details about the safeguarding responsibilities of the Trust can be found here.

At Ixworth High School, the Headteacher has overall responsibility for safeguarding and this is delegated to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). The DSL (including responsibility for Looked After Children); there are three other trained Assistant DSLs (ADSL).

Any safeguarding concern should be reported to the DSL in the first instance, then the ADSL. Please only contact the Named Trustee for Safeguarding when making a disclosure would not be appropriate to the DSL or ADSL.

 

Reporting a safeguarding concern at Ixworth High School

If you wish to report a safeguarding concern regarding a student at Ixworth High School, please contact the relevant person listed below.

For safeguarding concerns outside of school hours please contact Customer First on 0808 800 4005, if you’re worried that a child or young person is at risk of harm, abuse, or neglect. Their opening hours are: Monday to Thursday 8am to 5:20pm, Fridays 8am to 4:20pm. If you have concerns that a child or young person is at risk of immediate harm, please contact the police.

Any safeguarding concern should be reported to the DSL in the first instance, then the ADSL. Please only contact the Nominated Trustee for Safeguarding, Mr Roger Margand, when making a disclosure would not be appropriate to the DSL or ADSL.

The DSL and ADSL can be contacted on 01359 234050.

Reporting Abuse in Education

There is a new dedicated NSPCC helpline to support potential victims of sexual harassment and abuse in education settings. This helpline is now live and the number is 0800 136 663.

This dedicated helpline will offer support to:

  • all children and young people making current and non-recent disclosures of abuse;

  • any children or young people who want to talk about being involved or witnessing any incidents;

  • any adults who have experienced non-recent abuse;

  • parents and carers who have any concerns about their own or other children;

  • professionals who work in schools and need support in this, or related issues.


Please follow the links below for more information about the helpline and the Government’s review launch:

Dedicated helpline for victims of sexual abuse in schools | NSPCC

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/about-us/news-opinion/2021/sexual-abuse-victims-schools-helpline/

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-launches-review-into-sexual-abuse-in-schools

 

Contact numbers for students and parents out of hours/during a period of school closure: