A Welcome To Our Safeguarding Page From Our Safeguarding Lead Mr Hewitt

Safeguarding statement 

Under the Education Act 2002 (section 175), St Cecilia’s RC High School must ensure arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children are in place and consistently upheld. 

Our community adheres to the following three DFE safeguarding documents:

  • Working Together to Safeguard Children
  • Keeping Children Safe in Education 
  • The Prevent Duty

Safeguarding legislation and government guidance says that safeguarding means:

  • Protecting children from maltreatment
  • Preventing impairment of children’s health or development
  • Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
  • Taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcome
  • Safeguarding includes child protection, health care plans, health and safety, site security, safety on school trips, anti-bullying work and so much more.

Our values and beliefs

  • Any child should never experience any kind of abuse 
  • It is everyone’s responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, to keep them safe and to consistently practise in a way that protects them

We understand and recognise that: 

  • The welfare of children is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare 
  • All children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse 
  • Some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues 
  • Extra safeguards may be needed to keep children who are additionally vulnerable safe from abuse

How we keep our pupils safe:

  • Valuing, listening to and respecting them 
  • Upholding a robust Safeguarding and Child Protection policy through regular training, consistent procedures and best practice, including a code of conduct for all staff and volunteers
  • Developing and implementing an effective online safety policy and related procedures
  • Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, regular training and quality assurance measures so that all staff and volunteers are aware and adhere to the relevant policies and procedures
  • Building a safeguarding culture where staff and volunteers, children and their families, treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns
  • Parents/Carers should know that the law (Children Act 1989) requires all school staff to pass on information which gives rise to a concern about a child's welfare, including risk from neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse

Safeguarding and Pastoral team

If you have concerns about the safety of any student at St Cecilia’s RC High School please contact: safeguarding@st-cecilias.lancs.sch.uk

The school’s Safeguarding Team consists of: 

Mr S Hewitt - Designated Safeguarding Lead
Miss S Bethwaite - Deputy Safeguarding Lead, Designated teacher for CLA

Mrs P Lewis - Deputy Safeguarding Lead
Mr R Duffy - Deputy Safeguarding Lead

All staff receive annual Safeguarding update training and are aware of the procedures for passing on concerns within school. 
As well as contacting the email above, pupils can share any concerns they have:

In school

  • Form Tutor
  • Head of Year
  • Pastoral Team
  • Member of staff

Outside School

  • Parents
  • Trusted adult
  • Friends

If you have any concerns about a child, call  0300 123 6720 or out of hours 0300 123 6722.If you think a child is in immediate danger – don't delay call the police on 999.
The NSPCC website has advice about the signs, symptoms and effects of child abuse and neglect.

Spotting the signs of child abuse | NSPCC

Other forms of support can be seen below found: 

The Samaritans – Call 08457 909090
Childline (up to 25 years) – Call 0800 1111
Shout (24/7 Crisis text line for young people) - Text Shout to 85258
Lancashire Mental Health Crisis Line - 0800 953 0110