Safeguarding and Internet Safety

Ensuring students are safe is a key priority for all staff at St John’s Catholic School and Sixth Form College.  We recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all our students. We are dedicated to providing a safe, supportive and welcoming educational environment where children are respected and valued. 

 

At St John’s we actively protect and promote the wellbeing of all children and the safeguarding of all members of our school community is paramount.

 

All staff and Governors receive annual training in how to keep children safe and we have a designated team who have completed enhanced specialist training in Safeguarding and Child Protection to assist them in their roles.  You can identify the members of our designated team by their Safeguarding lanyards. 

Safeguarding Policies

The Designated Safeguarding Lead is Paula Watson (Assistant Headteacher)

Designated safeguarding deputies are:

Julie Usher (Student Welfare Coordinator)

Matt Dunn (Assistant Headteacher)

Louise Wilkinson (Assistant Headteacher)

Dave Athey (Pupil Premium Lead)

Michael Stephenson (Senior Learning Mentor) 

 

Our designated Safeguarding Governor is Mrs Ann Wake.

 

Our dedicated Safeguarding team works tirelessly to address any issues quickly and sensitively, providing support and guidance to ensure the wellbeing of all our students.

 

 

 

Parents/ Carers who have any worries or concerns about their child should contact school without delay. Talk to your child’s Pastoral Tutor, Head of Year or contact a member of the Safeguarding team.  If you have a concern and you are unable to contact a member of staff at school, you can contact Children’s Services directly by calling:  First Contact on 03000 267 979.  First Contact brings together children’s services staff with partners such as Durham Constabulary and health services. First Contact is open from 8.30am until 5.00pm, Monday to Thursday and from 8.30am until 4.30pm on a Friday.  In an emergency situation, a duty officer is available outside of normal office hours on the telephone number above.

If a child is concerned about their own wellbeing or that of another student, they should talk to someone such as a parent/carer, their pastoral tutor, their Head of Year or a member of the safeguarding team. Students can contact staff in person, online via email start-talking@stjohns.bhcet.org.uk  or by posting a concern in the safeguarding red post box located outside the SENDCO’s office, next to Student Reception. 

 

Child protection is a very sensitive issue and it raises many questions and a range of strong emotions. We will do everything we can to support our students and you can be reassured that any action we take will be in the best interests of your child.  In cases where the school has reason to be concerned that a child may be subject to significant harm, ill-treatment, neglect or other forms of abuse, staff have no alternative but to follow Durham Local Safeguarding Children's Board procedures and contact First Contact (Children's Services Social Care) and the Police, if appropriate.