Safeguarding

At The Cherwell School we believe that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. The health, safety and well-being of every student is at the centre of all that we do. Our dedicated safeguarding team is led by an experienced Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)  Ms Magenty who is also Deputy Headteacher. Ms Rapson (Head of Sixth form) is the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead for both years 12 and 13.  As well as the statutory Level 2 OSCB approved safeguarding training and PREVENT training that is completed every 2 years by all staff, there is additional and regular training and weekly updates to make sure safeguarding stays at the forefront of their minds.

Our policies are regularly reviewed and available to see on our website and we have a Safeguarding Governor who works closely with us on all matters related to safeguarding.
Of equal importance is our commitment to create a culture where safeguarding is everyone’s business and a duty that is taken seriously.  Twelve additional members of staff have joined our Extended Safeguarding Team in order to become expert in a specific safeguarding issue so that they can contribute to staff training throughout the year. We also have a dedicated team of Anti-Sexual Harassment Advocates who have been trained to receive discloures from students and make sure that they are supported.
We listen to our students and take seriously what they tell us. We make sure that they know exactly who they can report any concerns to either online or in person. Our aim is that our sixth form students will enjoy their time at school and achieve well and so our attendance and inclusion officer, non teaching deputy year leaders and learning mentors are in regular contact with parents and carers.
Students are taught how to keep themselves safe through timetabled Social Wellbeing lessons, scheduled wellbeing afternoon/mornings, assemblies and tutorials. 
We recognise that being a parent or carer is no easy task and so we share resources and tips through regular wellbeing letters and  run parents information events on issues such as online safety, sexual harassment and drugs and alcohol in order that parents and cares can feel more confident in talking to their children about these issues.
 
Sometimes our concern about a student may mean that we have to consult other agencies such as the Locality Community Support Services (LCSS) or the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) or the Police. Unless it is not safe for a student, we will always make sure that parents and carers know that we are doing this.
 
The procedures, which we follow, have been laid down by the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children’s Board and the school has adopted a Child Protection Policy in line with this for the safety of all. If you want to know more about our procedures, please speak to the Headteacher. The Policy can be found on the school website and is available, on request, from the school office.
Safeguarding and Child protection  
The DfE document Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSiE) defines safeguarding as a term that is broader than child protection and relates to the action taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm.