Protection of Children – Safeguarding

Great Marlow School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of all students and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. GMS strives to ensure that consistent and effective safeguarding procedures are in place to support families, students and staff at school.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead is Neil Maguire (Deputy Headteacher). Other staff trained in child protection are Karen Craig (Director of Learning KS4) and Kevin Ford (Headteacher), there is one other member of the team, namely Anna Gifford, who is the Pupil Premium Champion.

Great Marlow School has policies and procedures in place to deal effectively with child protection and safeguarding issues, which include tackling radicalisation and extremism, together with recording and monitoring processes.

To promote a safe environment for students, Great Marlow School employs a strict selection and recruitment policy, which includes all statutory checks on staff and regular volunteers, including enhanced disclosure and debarring service checks (DBS).

All staff are trained to a level appropriate to their safeguarding responsibilities ranging from basic awareness for all, to Level 2 for key staff. Other safeguarding training is attended by relevant staff and governors. The training is monitored and comprehensive records kept by the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

All concerns are passed through the members of staff who are trained as ‘Designated Child Protection Officers’ in school, in compliance with the HM ‘sharing of information’ guidance of March 2015. Staff are required to report all causes of concern to the school safeguarding team. Referrals are logged and monitored to make sure that they are followed up appropriately.

Student attendance is monitored closely and concerns are shared, as appropriate, with parents/carers, Buckinghamshire County Council, social care and the school’s safeguarding team. Great Marlow School works effectively with other agencies and parents/carers when necessary to safeguard young people.

Should there be any serious concerns about a child, or a member of staff at Great Marlow School, the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) should be contacted, who will provide advice and help using the appropriate degree of confidentiality.