Safeguarding at Birchwood Community High School

Birchwood Community High School is committed to the welfare and protection of all students in our care. As a school we recognise that safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility irrespective of the role they undertake and expect all staff, volunteers and visitors to share this commitment. We are fully committed to ensuring that consistent and effective safeguarding procedures are in place to support children, families and staff at school. 

If you are concerned that a child/ young person, is at risk of or experiencing abuse or neglect, or you yourself are a victim of abuse, you should report it straight away so that appropriate action can be taken to prevent harm.

Child abuse includes physical, sexual and emotional abuse, and neglect. You can read more about the signs of child abuse here. (NSPCC)

Report a safeguarding concern

BCHS Safeguarding Statement

Our Safeguarding Team

If you don’t feel safe or you are worried about the safety of another student, the safeguarding team is here to help.

To contact our safeguarding team please email: safeguardingteam@birchwoodhigh.org

Safeguarding Governor: Alison Fisher

Headteacher: Ms E Mills

Mrs J Richards

Designated Safeguarding Lead / Assistant Headteacher

Mr M Taylor

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Mrs S Rigby-White

Designated Safeguarding Lead for The Credo School

Mrs J Butler

Pastoral Manager & Anti-Bullying Lead

Mrs K McKean

Family Liaison & Safeguarding Officer

Mrs M Bird

Family Liaison & Safeguarding Officer

Our Safeguarding Policy Principles

The welfare of the child is of paramount importance
All children, regardless of age, gender, ability, culture, race, language, religion, or sexual identity, have equal rights to protection.
All staff have an equal responsibility to act on any suspicion or disclosure that may suggest a child is at risk of harm.
Pupils and staff involved in child protection issues will receive appropriate support.

Safeguarding Policies

Our safeguarding policies, including our Child Protection Policy, Behaviour Policy, Anti-Bullying Policy, Online Safety Policy, and Whistleblowing Policy are reviewed regularly to reflect best practice and legal requirements. Click here to take a look.

Prevent Duty

We take our Prevent duty seriously and work proactively to identify and support students at risk of radicalisation or extremism, as well as providing a safe place for students to discuss these issues so they better understand how to protect themselves. Click here for information about Prevent.

Early Help

We are committed to identifying needs at the earliest opportunity and providing timely Early Help support. Through Early Help Assessments, we work collaboratively to ensure the right support is in place, helping children, young people and their families achieve positive outcomes. Click here for more information.

Staying Safe Online

Online safety has never been more important. See advice on a range of online issues that your child may face to help them enjoy the digital world safely and smartly. For a host of useful organisations which offer advice and guidance on how to keep children safe online click here.

Other Support

If you need help outside of school hours these organisations offer confidential advice and support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who do I talk to if I have a safeguarding concern?

To contact any member of our safeguarding team please email: safeguardingteam@birchwoodhigh.org

What happens if I report something?

Your concern will be taken seriously, treated confidentially, and investigated promptly.

Can I report bullying?

Yes, bullying is a safeguarding concern. Please contact the safeguarding team or report anonymously via safeguardingteam@birchwoodhigh.org

What is Child Criminal Exploitation (County Lines)?

County lines is a form of criminal exploitation where urban gangs persuade, coerce or force children and young people to store drugs and money and/or transport them to suburban areas, market towns and coastal towns (Home Office, 2018). It can happen in any part of the UK and is against the law and a form of child abuse.

Children and young people may be criminally exploited in multiple ways. Other forms of criminal exploitation include child sexual exploitation, trafficking, gang and knife crime.

County lines gangs are highly organised criminal networks that use sophisticated, frequently evolving techniques to groom young people and evade capture by the police.

Further information can be found at:
https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/child-abuse-and-neglect/county-lines

What is Cuckooing?

Cuckooing is a type of crime where a drug dealer befriends an individual who lives on his or her own. The drug dealer then moves in, takes over the property and turns it into a drugs den.

Victims are often lonely, isolated and vulnerable and may be drug users themselves.

Signs to look out for:

Increased visitors to an address
Evidence of drug use in the public areas
Secure doors wedged open

Contact the Police on 101 or your Housing Office if you have concerns or information.

If you have any information you can contact the independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through their anonymous online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org

No personal details are taken, information cannot be traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

What is Child Sexual Exploitation?

Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a type of child sexual abuse. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity (Department for Education, 2017; NIdirect, 2021; Scottish Government, 2018; Wales Safeguarding Procedures Project Board, 2020a).

Children and young people in sexually exploitative situations and relationships are persuaded or forced to perform sexual activities or have sexual activities performed on them in return for gifts, drugs, money or affection.

CSE can take place in person, online, or using a combination of both.

Further information can be found at:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/child-sexual-exploitation/

What is Child-on-Child Abuse?

Child on Child abuse is sexual abuse that happens between children of a similar age or stage of development. It can happen between any number of children, and can affect any age group (Department for Education (DfE), 2021a).

It can be harmful to the children who display it as well as those who experience it.

Further information can be found at:

https://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/caa/child-abuse/peer-on-peer-child-abuse/

What is sextortion?

Sextortion is a type of online blackmail, it often involves an adult offender threatening to release nude or semi-nude images and/or video of a child or young person, unless they pay more , or meet another financial demand, such as pre-paid gift cards.

Tip on talking to your child about sextortion:

Chat regularly to them about their life online, explore new sites and app together and talk in a balances way, considering the benefits and the potential harms.
Talk about where to find information about relationships: organisations like CEOP Education and ChildLine have age-appropriate advice and resources.
Review privacy settings.
Make sure they know where to go for support – let them know they can come to you with any concerns. It’s also important to make them aware of other trusted adults or sources of support, if they feel they can’t talk to you, such as Childline or school staff.
Report it – remind your child how you can help them to report an incident to the police or using CEOP Safety Centre.

3 step to try and get images removed.

Use Report Remove: a tool from Childline and Internet Watch Foundation
Use Take It Down: a tool from National Centre for missing and Exploited Children.
Report directly to the platform or app. For advice on how to report to social media platforms, visit Internet matters.