Safeguarding is a term which relates to the action taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. Safeguarding children and protecting them from harm is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and families has a role to play. Safeguarding is defined in ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ 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
• taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
At Donhead we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the pupils. Creating a safe environment, where every child is heard and valued, is at the heart of our safeguarding.
At Donhead, we develop and review our safeguarding policies and procedures regularly and encourage pupils to use their voice to be heard in the knowledge their concerns will be taken seriously and acted upon.
At Donhead, we help the pupils to develop the skills for personal safeguarding and to keep themselves safe when online, using public transport, outside in public spaces and on the roads.
At Donhead parents are encouraged to contact the safeguarding team should they have any concerns about a child’s welfare.
What you can do
Parents and carers play a role in safeguarding children in their community. If you have any concerns, no matter how small, you should report them to someone who you trust will listen. The school is required to have a designated safeguarding lead for this purpose. Parents and children should speak to the safeguarding lead or deputy, if they have any concerns about a child or staff member.
| Designated Safeguarding Lead | Catherine Hitchcock (Headteacher) |
| Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead | Shaun Anglim (Assistant Headteacher) |
| Online/ Online Safety Education | Olivia Rodrigues (Head of Computing) |
| Filtering and Monitoring | Simon Sayvell (IT/Network Manager) |
| Safeguarding Governor | David Doran |
Driven by our Christian values, Donhead provides high standards of pastoral support to safeguard the welfare and wellbeing of all our pupils. In the same spirit, together with the Jesuits in Britain, we are keen to assist and support any former pupils with past experiences. They, along with concerned family or friends can speak with Catherine Hitchcock, our Designated Safeguarding Lead. She will listen with empathy to any concerns and assist those affected to access appropriate support where this may be of benefit. Her contact details are: c.hitchcock@donhead.org.uk. Alternatively, contact can be made with Julie Ashby-Ellis, the safeguarding coordinator for the Jesuits in Britain, for such assistance. Her contact details are: safeguarding@jesuit.org.uk or 07715 669128.
