"Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone's responsibility."
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025

Safeguarding

Safeguarding means protecting children from abuse and maltreatment. It is an essential part of our duty of care. We take this responsibility seriously and constantly work to provide a safe environment in which children can learn. Our school is compliant with all statutory guidance in relation to child protection.

Our school is part of a wider safeguarding system. We work closely with families and with a range of agencies to promote the welfare of children.

We are never complacent and are vigilant in all that we do. We keep an open mind, and always accept that "it could happen here". Our actions are always guided by what is in the best interests of each child.

All of our staff and governors receive regular training above and beyond statutory requirements to ensure our practice is as robust as it can be.

Please click here to view our Safeguarding Policies.

Mrs Clare Smith
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mr Veem Raghoo
Designated Safeguarding Lead

If you have any worries or concerns regarding the safety or wellbeing of any of our students, or would simply like to ask a question, please contact the Safeguarding Team.

There are a number of ways you can contact the Team. Please use the way which is most appropriate for you:

  1. by email: safeguarding@bishopstopford.com

  2. by telephone: 01536 503503 and ask to speak to a member of the Safeguarding Team

  3. if you are on the school site, go to Reception and ask for a member of the Safeguarding Team.

  4. for students only: itsnotok@bishopstopford.com, speak to a Trusted Adult or a Student Ambassador

  5. For concerns outside school hours, contact the police on 101 or 999 in an emergency. You can also call the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 0300 126 7000.

The internet is an incredible tool which has led to huge shifts in the way we live and work.  However, ensuring our students know how to stay safe online is crucial.  This learning is delivered through our PSHE and IT curriculums and through special events like Online Safety Day.  E-safety and security is built into the safeguarding culture of the school. We focus on the 4Cs of content, contact, conduct and commerce to support students in being discerning about what they are engaging with online.    

Advice to Parents and Carers

We actively encourage families to talk about online safety and for parents to monitor screen and online time at home. Devices for home use will have parental controls which serve to restrict access to age-inappropriate material.

We recognise that it is not always easy to talk to young people about cyber bullying, sexting, pornography or risk-taking behaviour online. However, an open dialogue is likely to encourage them to share any concerns they may have.  To support this, the school works closely with Souster Youth, a charitable organisation which works with us to support parents in confronting these challenging issues.

The website Internet Matters provides guidance about how to report an online incident.

For further information or guidance, the following websites are useful:

Digizen

Parent Info

ThinkUKnow

FriendlyWifi

CEOP - Police safety centrePublic WiFi | Friendly WiFi | United Kingdom

Information, Advice and Support to Keep Children Safe Online (internetmatters.org)

Guardian's Guide | TikTok

Digital Safety - Learning Journey

 

We take seriously our responsibility to prevent young people from being drawn into extremist activities.

Our approach is to build awareness of extremism and to enable our students to challenge extremist views.

Students will always engage in debating controversial issues from time to time. School provides a safe space for students to be given information, advice and guidance in relation to these matters. We endeavour to ensure that the can raise these issues, understand the associated risks  and develop the knowledge, skills and understanding to be able to respond to extremism.
 
If anyone has concerns that extremist or radical activity could be affecting anyone in the school community, they should contact the School’s Designated Safeguard Lead immediately.

http://www.educateagainsthate.com/ gives practical advice and support in keeping children safe from the dangers of extremism.