Bradford Grammar School Code of Safe Practice This policy applies to the whole school. Issued 01 September 2015 All staff have a duty to keep pupils safe and to protect them from harm. The underlying principle is that colleagues are expected to make professional judgements about their own behaviour in order to secure the best interests and welfare of pupils so that, in doing so, they will be deemed to have acted reasonably. Pastoral care is strong at Bradford Grammar School and concerns about a pupil must be raised with either the form tutor, appropriate Head of Year or Assistant Head of Year, or the Pastoral Director all of whom will share information on a professional need to know basis. The Child Protection Policy should be consulted if any member of staff believes that a pupil at Bradford Grammar School is at risk of serious harm. Colleagues are also reminded that they have a duty to take care of themselves. Teaching staff at Bradford Grammar School must meet Part 2 of the Teachers Standards, given below, which have implications for conduct both on and off site and for our Code of Safe Practice: “Teachers uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school, by: treating pupils with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect, and at all times observing proper boundaries appropriate to a teacher’s professional position having regard for the need to safeguard pupils’ well-being, in accordance with statutory provisions showing tolerance of and respect for the rights of others not undermining fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs ensuring that personal beliefs are not expressed in ways which exploit pupils’ vulnerability or might lead them to break the law Teachers must have proper and professional regard for the ethos, policies and practices of the school in which they teach, and maintain high standards in their own attendance and punctuality Teachers must have an understanding of, and always act within, the statutory frameworks which set out their professional duties and responsibilities”. 1. Positions of authority and trust A colleague must: not use their authority to intimidate, threaten, coerce or undermine pupils not use their position to gain access to information for their own advantage or to a pupil’s or family’s detriment not make unprofessional comments which demean or humiliate pupils not use inappropriate language with or within earshot of pupils take care with regards to how their actions may be interpreted by others being careful not to pay particular attention to an individual pupil or group of pupils 1 2. not make inappropriate sexual remarks to a pupil (including but not limited to email, text messages, phone or letter) or behave in such a manner which could be interpreted as sexually aggressive or provocative not engage in sexual activity with any pupil or invite a pupil to engage in or watch any kind of inappropriate sexual activity whether they consent or not not behave in such a manner that would lead a reasonable person to question their suitability to work with children or to act as a role model ask ‘are my actions professional, fair, reasonable, warranted, proportionate, measured, safe and applied equitably?’ Confidentiality A colleague must not: promise complete confidentiality to a pupil before, during or after a disclosure share confidential information about a pupil with a colleague, other than on a professional need-to-know basis pass confidential information about a pupil to anyone not employed by Bradford Grammar School without first seeking guidance from an appropriate Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) who are: Deputy Head Simon Hinchliffe and Pastoral Director Jane Chapman in the Senior School, and Headmaster Neil Gabriel and Deputy Head Elizabeth Asady in the Junior School. Staff may however, communicate confidential information to Children’s Services or the Police when specifically requested to do so by these agencies as part of a child protection referral. Staff are reminded that whilst it is the responsibility of the DSLs to make referrals, anyone can make a referral acting in the interests of a child (see Child Protection Policy). 3. Infatuations A colleague must report immediately to a DSL any indications (verbal, written or physical) that suggest a pupil might be infatuated with them or another colleague. 4. Dress Colleagues must dress decently, safely and appropriately. 5. Gifts Colleagues must not accept any major gift which might be construed by others as a bribe, or lead the giver to expect preferential treatment. Gifts to pupils should not be of significant value and should be available to all pupils. 6. Contact Colleagues must not establish social contact with pupils for any kind of friendship or relationship. Personal contact details (mobile / home telephone / social media accounts etc.) must not be given to pupils. Email contact with parents or pupils should be via school email. Any unwelcome communications from either pupils or parents should be reported to a DSL or the Deputy Head of the Senior or Junior School as appropriate. 7. Physical contact As a general rule, there should be no physical contact between staff and pupils. Physical contact must never be of a type which might be considered inappropriate, indecent or threatening or harmful in any way. Colleagues must immediately report to the Deputy Head 2 any physical contact which is a cause of concern or which may have been misconstrued. There may be occasions when it is appropriate and proper for colleagues to have physical contact with a pupil but this must be a professional judgement in response to a pupil’s needs at the time and must be of limited duration and take into account the pupil’s age, stage of development, gender, ethnicity and background. Some colleagues may need to initiate physical contact in order to support a child so that they may perform a task safely, to demonstrate a particular piece of equipment or instrument or to assist with an exercise. This must be done with a pupil’s consent and openly. Colleagues should not indulge in horseplay, tickling or fun fights and should take particular care when dealing with a pupil who is known to have suffered from previous abuse or neglect. 8. Pupils in distress Colleagues must take care when comforting a distressed pupil. It is important that they are self-aware and avoid any contact which might be intrusive or open to misinterpretation. It is important to tell another member of staff if comfort has been given to a distressed pupil. 9. Control and physical intervention Colleagues should endeavour to defuse situations without physical intervention. Reasonable force may be used to prevent a pupil injuring themselves or others but colleagues must not put themselves at risk. There is no legal definition of “reasonable force” but care must be used to ensure that such force is warranted by the circumstances of a particular incident. Any force used should be the minimum to achieve the desired result. 10. Showers and changing Pupils are entitled to privacy and colleagues should: announce their intention of entering changing rooms avoid visually intrusive behaviour not touch a pupil in a state of undress not remain in the changing rooms unless there is a need to do so not shower or change in the same place as the pupils be particularly careful about gender issues 11. Behaviour management Colleagues should not use physical intimidation or invade a pupil’s space nor should force be used as a form of punishment. Sarcasm, demeaning or insensitive comments should not be used. In difficult situations colleagues should remain calm and try to defuse situations. A pupil should not be physically barred from leaving a room or situation unless they constitute a threat to themselves or others. Colleagues should calmly advise a pupil that leaving is against instructions and constitutes defiance. 12. One-to-one situations Colleagues should: avoid arranging to meet a pupil in a remote or secluded part of the school 3 13. ensure there is a visual access and/or an open door ensure that there are other staff around or at least aware of a meeting not use “Engaged” or equivalent signs arrange for a colleague to be present if there is a concern about the likely nature of the meeting particularly when there is a gender difference not arrange meetings with pupils away from the school premises, except with the approval of the parent and appropriate Headmaster or Deputy Head Overnight supervision during examinations This should never be undertaken without the prior agreement of the examination board and the school’s Examinations Officer. Only staff volunteers should be used and they should be fully briefed about appropriate and safe practice. 14. Transporting pupils Pupils should not be transported in a colleague’s own vehicle, especially one-to-one, without the consent of the pupil, parent and a senior colleague. The driver must ensure that appropriate insurance is in place. A pupil should not be transported to hospital in a colleague’s car without the consent of a senior member of staff. If in doubt, an ambulance should be called. 15. Educational visits and after school activities It is important to remember that in less formal contexts, a colleague is still in a legal position of trust and needs to ensure that behaviour is professional at all times and cannot be interpreted as seeking to establish an inappropriate relationship or friendship. 16. First aid and the administration of medicines Colleagues should consult the school nurse if they are unsure how to respond in any situation. No medicine should be given without parental consent (including aspirin and ibruprofen). There is no expectation for a member of staff to administer or supervise the taking of medicines unless specifically trained and authorised to do so. Pupils needing medication regularly should have a health care plan drawn up by the school nurse. Wherever possible, first aid should only be given by a school nurse or a trained volunteer of the same gender if possible. Another adult should be present, or at least aware, when first aid is administered. In exceptional emergency circumstances, it may be necessary for an untrained member of staff to intervene but they should do the minimum required whilst awaiting specialist support. Always complete an accident report after an incident. A member of staff should always accompany a pupil taken to hospital by ambulance and should stay until the parent arrives. 4 17. Curriculum Care should be taken that resource materials are appropriate and relate to the planned learning objectives. Sensitive issues (e.g. relating to sex, race, religion, gender, disability) should be handled with care, especially where unplanned discussion arises. Colleagues must not enter into or encourage inappropriate or offensive discussion. Remember that parents have a legal right to withdraw their children from all or any part of sex education (but not from biological aspects of human growth and reproduction integral to the science curriculum). Take care that resource material used is appropriate to the age of the pupils concerned. 18. Photographic and video images It is good practice at times to record photographic and video images of pupils, or to allow pupils to record images of each other to assist teaching and learning, or to celebrate achievement. There is however, potential for images of children to be misused, in extreme cases for pornographic or grooming purposes and therefore colleagues should adhere to the following code: only record images when there is a justifiable need ensure that pupils understand the reason for the recording of the images and how the images will be used and stored ensure that a senior colleague is aware of the recordings ensure that all images recorded are available for scrutiny avoid making recordings in one-to-one situations on admission to the school, parents give consent that images and recordings of their children can be used for legitimate reasons if a photograph is used, the pupils should not be named without direct parental consent. where the school has decided that images should be retained for future use, they should be stored and used only by those authorised to do so 19. Internet use Staff must not use school ICT, either on or off site, to access any material with illegal content or which may be deemed to be offensive or in very poor taste by another reasonable adult and which if discovered may bring the teaching profession into disrepute. Specifically, staff must not use school ICT equipment to access adult pornography on or off site. Accessing child pornography, or making, storing or disseminating such materials is illegal and, if proven, will be treated as gross misconduct. All teaching staff are again reminded that they must “maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour” and thus satisfy Part 2 of the Teachers Standards (given above) which clearly indicate that conduct both in and out of school must not bring the teaching profession into disrepute. 20. Responsibilities Colleagues should report to a DSL any behaviour by a colleague which gives cause for concern in relation to the health, safety and welfare of pupils. If an incident occurs which may result in an allegation being made against a member of staff, then the relevant 5 information should be recorded promptly and reported to a DSL. Colleagues who are the subject of allegations are advised to contact their professional association. This policy has been written to support staff and pupils by being as clear as possible about safe conduct. Inevitably, situations will arise that the policy does not cover and in such situations, a colleague should seek guidance from a DSL. 6