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Safeguarding

Watford Grammar School for Boys is dedicated to keeping children safe.

We do this by providing a safe environment, identifying children and young people who may be at risk and taking appropriate action.

Our mission statement

We seek to ensure that all our students enjoy the highest quality of care.

We maintain an environment where children feel secure, are encouraged to talk and are listened to when they have a concern.

We maintain an environment where school staff and volunteers feel safe, are encouraged to talk and are listened to when they have concerns about the safety and well-being of a child.

Our safeguarding procedures

To promote a safe environment for students, our selection and recruitment procedure includes all checks on staff and regular volunteers’ suitability, including Disclosure and Barring Service checks, as recommended by Hertfordshire County Council as governed by current legislation.

In accordance with our responsibilities under section 175/157 of the Education Act 2002 and “Keeping Children Safe in Education” 2016, we have a Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Safeguarding Leads who have received appropriate training for these roles and ensure that all staff in contact with children receive child protection training on a regular basis.

Our procedures have been laid down by the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board, and the school has adopted a Child Protection Policy in line with this for the safety of all.

The school’s Child Protection Policy is available here:
WBGS Child Protection Policy

Further guidance can be found in the Department for Education’s guidance document ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education 2018’ with which the school complies.

Bullying

Report bullying

We operate a zero-tolerance approach to bullying. If you are a pupil who is being bullied, or if you are worried about another pupil who is suffering from bullying, please click on the Report Bullying button above to report the incident to our Designated Safeguarding Lead. All information will be treated confidentially.

Visitors to the school

Visitors must wear their identification lanyard at all times when on the school site. During a partial or full lockdown please make your way to the nearest office or classroom. If you hear the fire alarm please evacuate via the nearest exit with the staff member you are visiting and make your way to the nearest Fire Assembly Point.

Do not enter classrooms unless escorted by a member of staff or by prior arrangement.

Please do not take photographs of students without seeking permission from the Headmaster.

Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the school premises.

What should I do if I am concerned about a child?

Please report any concerns about the safety of children immediately to any member of the Safeguarding Team (details below) by contacting them in person, by telephone or email. Regardless of the source of harm, you MUST report your concern.

Concerns might include:

Concerns that a child may be being bullied
Concerns that a child may be a victim of physical abuse
Concerns that a child may be a victim of emotional abuse
Concerns that a child may be being neglected
Concerns that a child may be a victim of sexual abuse

Please remember that harm to a child can be caused by a parent or carer, a family member or friend, another child, a stranger, a member of staff or volunteer in the school.

If your concern is about a staff member or volunteer, you should report this to the Headmaster. If your concern is about the Headmaster, you should report the concern to the Chair of Governors. Contact details can be found below.