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At St. Mary’s College we recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all pupils. We endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected, valued and thrive. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure that children receive effective support, protection and justice.
The procedures contained in our safeguarding and child protection policies apply to all staff, visitors and governors and are consistent with those of the Sefton Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP).
Our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy can be accessed through the Policies page.
A link to the DfE guidance document for schools Keeping Children Safe in Education is available here.
Designated Safeguarding Lead for Child Protection: Mrs Suzanne Bartolo
Designated Deputy Safeguarding Lead: Mrs Julie Thomas, Vice-Principal
Nominated Governor for Child Protection/Safeguarding: Mrs Pat Old
St. Mary’s College has a Designated Safeguarding Lead for Child Protection in each phase of the school:
The vast majority of people who take or view photographs or videos of children do so for entirely innocent, understandable and acceptable reasons. Sadly, some people abuse children through taking or using images, so we must ensure that we have some safeguards in place. To protect pupils we will:
In our ICT and PSHE lessons as well as in assemblies we cover all aspects of e-safety with our students.
Here are some helpful links for parents to highlight different aspects of e-safety
Studies have demonstrated that there is a highly significant correlation between high levels of attendance and success at school. The Government expects pupils to have a minimum level of attendance of at least 97% and all schools are expected to aim for this target.
Every absence is rigorously challenged, with a phone call home to find out why a pupil is not in school. Attendance is analysed and fed back on via the reporting system. Permission from form teachers or heads of year must be sought for medical appointments, funerals, interviews, open days. The school policy on absence is:
At St. Mary’s we have an excellent relationship with the Liverpool NHS Trust School Nurse team and especially our allocated nurse Emma Stanson. Emma is a highly qualified and experienced professional children’s nurse, who keeps up to date with current health issues and has an important role in promoting the health and safety of your child.
The School Nurse is also available to offer help, advice and a listening ear to all our pupils and staff, and is available at a drop-in clinic for any pupil on Monday lunch times. She is contactable for advice at all times via phone and website. We have two medical rooms which are ‘open’ throughout the school day where the school secretaries (both qualified first aiders) will monitor a child who feels slightly unwell. With parental permission, the office will supply simple medication such as painkillers, which are ‘age’ appropriate and ice packs for grazes or knocks. Staff qualified in ‘First aid at work’ will provide first aid and look after your child.
The School Nurse contributes to the Health Education, is involved in the development of health related policies and also develops Individual Health Care Plans for those pupils with medical concerns. She also assists with the vaccination programmes and all Health education delivered on EPR days. She is happy to get in touch with parents to give advice or pass your concerns on to a relevant department:
If you have any concerns or worries please contact:
Sharon Elder, School Nurse, Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust, 0151 247 6354
We have a strong relationship with local police and Sarah, our designated Police Constable, visits school regularly. Sarah can be contacted on 0151 777 8071.
St. Mary’s College is committed to serving its community. It recognises the multi-cultural, multi faith and ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom. It also understands the vital role it has in ensuring that groups or individuals within the school are not subjected to intimidation or radicalisation by those wishing to unduly, or illegally, influence them.
It follows equal opportunities guidance which guarantees that there will be no discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status, or similar. We are dedicated to preparing students for their adult life beyond the formal examined curriculum and ensuring that it promotes and reinforces British values to all its students. Actively promoting these values means challenging opinions or behaviours in school that are contrary to fundamental British values.
The Teachers’ Standards expect teachers to uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school. This includes not undermining fundamental British values. Our teachers ensure that key ‘British Values’ are taught in our school. The government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy which clarifies how schools can demonstrate how they meet the requirements of the 2002 Education Act and latest guidance on the teaching of SMSC (November 2014). The five British Values are:
Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes. The Prevent strategy covers all types of terrorism and extremism, including the extreme right wing, violent Islamist groups and other causes.
From July 2015 all schools (as well as other organisations) have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism. This means we have a responsibility to protect children from extremist and violent views the same way we protect them from drugs or gang violence. Importantly, we can provide a safe place for students to discuss these issues so they better understand how to protect themselves.
Many of the things we already do in school to help children become positive, happy members of society also contribute to the Prevent strategy.
These include:
We will also protect children from the risk of radicalisation, for example by using filters on the internet to make sure they can’t access extremist and terrorist material, or by vetting visitors who come into school to work with students.
Different schools will carry out the Prevent duty in different ways, depending on the age of the children and the needs of the community.
Individual liberty and mutual respect
Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs
The Prevent strategy is not just about discussing extremism itself, which may not be appropriate for younger children. It is also about teaching children values such as tolerance and mutual respect.
The school will make sure any discussions are suitable for the age and maturity of the children involved.
Extremism can take many forms, including political, religious and misogynistic extremism. Some of these may be a bigger threat in our area than others.
We will give children the skills to protect them from any extremist views they may encounter, now or later in their lives.
Key Terms
Contact the school: If you have any questions or concerns about the Prevent strategy and what it means for your child, please do not hesitate to contact the school.
See our policy: You will find more details about radicalisation in our safeguarding policy, available on our website.
External sources: The following sources may also be useful for further information:
Prevent duty guidance: for England and Wales, HM Government
Frequently asked questions, Prevent For Schools
What is Prevent? Let’s Talk About It
All students from Year 10 upwards complete the College of Policing Certificate on Channel General Awareness.
Advice on protecting your child from the risk of Radicalisation and Extremism
The Educate Against Hate website was launched on 19 January 2016. The website offers practical advice to parents, teachers and school leaders on protecting children from extremism and radicalisation.
At St. Mary’s College our community is based upon respect, good manners and fair play. We are committed to providing a safe and caring environment that is free from disruption, violence and any form of harassment so that every one of our pupils can develop his/her full potential. We expect our pupils to treat members of staff with courtesy and co-operation so that they can learn in a relaxed, but orderly, atmosphere. All pupils should care for and support each other. St. Mary’s College prides itself on its respect and mutual tolerance. Parents/guardians have an important role in supporting the college in maintaining high standards of behaviour. It is essential that school and homes have consistent expectations of behaviour and that they co-operate closely together. Acceptance of this policy forms part of our standard terms and conditions. Our anti-bullying policy.
We have an External Visits Coordinator (Mr Derek Williams) who ensure all college safety and safeguarding procedures will be followed whilst off-site. All trips from the school site are only run with permission form the Senior Leadership Team and only signed off when assessed by the External Visits Coordinator. Where extended school activities are provided by and managed by the school, our own safeguarding policy and procedures apply. If other organisations provide services or activities on our site we will check that they have appropriate procedures in place, including safer recruitment procedures. When our pupils attend off-site activities, we will check that effective safeguarding arrangements are in place.