▶ About Us ▶ Safeguarding at Ripon Grammar School

Safeguarding at Ripon Grammar School

Safeguarding Bulletins

Spring Term 2 Update 2024

Autumn Term 1 Parent Bulletin 2023

Academic year 22/23

Autumn 2 2022 Safeguarding Bulletin

Spring 1 2023 Safeguarding Bulletin

Spring 2 2023 Safeguarding Bulletin

Summer 1 2023 Safeguarding Bulletin

Summer 2 2023 Safeguarding Bulletin

Our Approach

At Ripon Grammar School we recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguarding and promote the welfare of all students. We endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued. We are alert to the signs of abuse; neglect and follow our procedures to ensure that children receive effective support and protection. We adopt a whole school approach to safeguarding and this is achieved through our policies and processes in order to operate with the best interests of the child at heart. We encourage all staff to use their professional curiosity and to always be critical with what they see and hear.

Ripon Grammar School adopts the safeguarding definition used by Ofsted derived from The Children Act, 2004:

protecting children and young people from maltreatment
preventing impairment of children and young people’s health or development
ensuring that children and young people are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
undertaking that role so as to enable those children and young people to have optimum life chances and to enter adulthood successfully.

Ripon Grammar School adopts the annually updated North Yorkshire Child Protection Policy, which outlines key information and procedures for staff, parents/carers and students. This policy is available in the policies section of our website. All school staff undertake annual training with regard to best practice and safeguarding updates that are disseminated from a national level to ensure they have the necessary knowledge and skills to fulfil their responsibilities. Staff receive regular updates via half termly bulletins. Staff are also trained to recognise signs of radicalisation through the Prevent Strategy. All staff are trained in how to recognise and report safeguarding concerns. The safeguarding team always respond to concerns, swiftly, rigorously and robustly.

All students are fully aware of the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and the Deputy DSL via assemblies, tutor updates and the PSHCE programme links to this with age-appropriate content delivered.

The school takes a zero-tolerance approach to all reported incidents of child on child abuse, sexual violence and/or sexual harassment. We have a robust procedure which staff use to raise safeguarding concerns and we foster positive working relationships with parents and carers to ensure pupils receive the appropriate support as soon as they need it.

Student Voice

We invest in listening to the views of all of our students. All students are periodically invited to complete a whole-school survey which explores their views on a wide range of issues pertaining to school and their safety, mental health and emotional well-being. The feedback from the student body is used to inform our safeguarding curriculum.

Communication with home

Half termly safeguarding Bulletin to parents/guardians

Parents and guardians receive a half termly bulletin which focuses on issues impacting on young people. The safeguarding bulletin provides information and guidance to support parents and guardians so they can have conversations with their child regarding a wide range of safeguarding issues.

Resources from other agencies are available through the website.

The National College Top tips for helping those experiencing bullying can be found here.

North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (NYSCP)

https://www.safeguardingchildren.co.uk/

Ripon Grammar works closely with colleagues at North Yorkshire to ensure the safety and well-being of our students. We encourage parents/guardians to access the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children website, which provides advice and guidance to parents and carers on a variety of subjects.

Contacting school if you have a concern

The Designated Safeguarding Lead and the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead contact are available to students and parents/guardians. If you have a concern please do not hesitate to contact the school safeguarding team safeguardingconcerns@ripongrammar.com.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead or Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead staff can also be contacted directly.

Designated Safeguarding Lead [DSL]: DSL: Mrs Keelan-Edwards 01765 602647 ext:260 keelan-edwardsh@ripongrammar.com

Deputy Safeguarding Lead: Mrs Caroline Day 01765 602647 ext: 245 dayc@ripongrammar.com

Deputy Safeguarding Lead: Mr Terry Fell 01765 602647 ext: 244 fellt@ripongrammar.com

Deputy Safeguarding Lead: Mrs Emma Hewison 01765 602647 ext 398 hewisone@ripongrammar.com

Reporting a safeguarding concern during school holidays

During periods of school closure, such as school holidays, you should contact North Yorkshire County Council whose details are given below.

If you are worried about a child or a young person under the age of 18, you should contact the Children and Young People’s Service. If your concern is outside of normal office hours, you should contact the emergency duty team.

NORTH YORKSHIRE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S SERVICE

During Office Hours

By Phone: 01609 780780

Email: children&families@northyorks.gov.uk

Outside Office Hours

Emergency Duty Team (for evenings, weekends and bank holidays): 01609 780780