Bede Academy aims to create an atmosphere in which students feel confident in approaching any member of staff if they are experiencing difficulties. This includes opportunities within the curriculum for students to learn about how to develop the skills they need to stay safe, as well as knowing who to can turn to for support should they need it. All staff who deal with students will have an understanding of the Academy’s statutory responsibility and procedures to ensure the welfare and safety of all students. The Pastoral team is fully committed to supporting the needs of all students at the Academy and are always available for advice and guidance. As a result students feel valued and can learn and develop their character. Procedures are in place for students to talk to their Tutors, who they see twice daily, as their first port of call, followed by any of the Pastoral staff, or any other member of staff they wish to speak to.
Helping kids who have witnessed domestic violence
Bede Academy take part in a project that runs in partnership with Northumberland County Council, Northumbria Police and all schools and academies in the Northumberland.
This project, Operation Encompass, has been designed to provide early reporting to schools of any domestic abuse incidents that occur outside normal school hours and that might have an impact on a child attending our Academy the following day. This information will be shared at the earliest opportunity between Monday and Thursday and, when an incident occurs on a Friday, Saturday or a Sunday, the police will contact us the following Monday.
Welfare staff are trained to work with the police. They will be able to use the information that has been shared with them, in confidence, to ensure that the Academy is able to make provision for possible difficulties experienced by children or their families. Information will be shared where it is identified that a child or young person was present at, witnessed or was involved in a domestic abuse incident.
Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL)
the role of the designated safeguarding lead is to act as the first point of contact for any safeguarding or child protection incident or concern in and even sometimes outside of the academy.
