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:
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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:
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not use their authority to intimidate, threaten, coerce or undermine pupils
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not use their position to gain access to information for their own advantage or to a
pupil’s or family’s detriment
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not make unprofessional comments which demean or humiliate pupils
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not use inappropriate language with or within earshot of pupils
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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
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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:
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promise complete confidentiality to a pupil before, during or after a disclosure
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share confidential information about a pupil with a colleague, other than on
a professional need-to-know basis
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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
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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:
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announce their intention of entering changing rooms
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avoid visually intrusive behaviour
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not touch a pupil in a state of undress
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not remain in the changing rooms unless there is a need to do so
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not shower or change in the same place as the pupils
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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:
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avoid arranging to meet a pupil in a remote or secluded part of the
school
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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.
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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:
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only record images when there is a justifiable need
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ensure that pupils understand the reason for the recording of the images and
how the images will be used and stored
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ensure that a senior colleague is aware of the
recordings
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ensure that all images recorded are available for
scrutiny
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avoid making recordings in one-to-one situations
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on admission to the school, parents give consent that images and recordings of
their children can be used for legitimate reasons
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if a photograph is used, the pupils should not be named without direct parental consent.
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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
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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.
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