Safeguarding and Child Protection

Children and young people spend a large amount of their time at school.  Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy has responsibility to safeguard all students from harm.  Our actions are based on our school values, particularly trust and respect. Our primary responsibility is to support students in their academic studies. We also wish to ensure our students are well prepared for their future beyond school.  We know that, if our students are safe in school, then they are in the best position to be fully engaged in their learning and reach their potential. To ensure that students take advantage of the educational opportunities offered to them, students should be supported and valued at both home and school. We work together with our parents/carers to achieve this. 

We will show our commitment to safeguarding across three clear levels:  

•  Universal Safeguarding: Our goal is to provide a safe environment for all students. To do this we will ensure the following: 

1. Excellent site safety measures  
2. Follow strict safeguarding procedures for recruiting staff  
3. Enforce school rules and codes of conduct  
4. Include safety awareness throughout the school curriculum.  

•   Targeted Safeguarding: Some students will experience situations which makes them more at risk. This can be due to their personal, social or economic circumstances. We directly focus on these groups of students to offer them appropriate support. Examples include looked after children and those students with special educational needs.  

•   Responsive Safeguarding: There are times when a student may be at risk or has experienced harm. We act promptly and effectively to offer support in these situations. This can involve providing support through our child protection procedures. This will often mean the school will work closely with external agencies.  This can include Children’s Services and the Police. 

Ensuring the safety and well-being of our students is key to the school. We strongly believe students have the right to feel happy and secure both inside and outside of school. All staff are trained in safeguarding to support and listen to students if they wish to share a concern about themselves or someone else. Whenever a concern is shared, we can never guarantee confidentiality. As a school we must relay information to those who have responsibility for safeguarding.  

Mr Cooper is our senior member of staff who is responsible for safeguarding in the school. As well as Deputy Principal, he is the schools’ Designated Safeguarding Lead.  He is supported by a team of Deputy Safeguarding Leads. The safeguarding team are familiar with pastoral issues that can affect young people and their families, and they are also aware of local issues that may be affecting our community. We work closely with outside agencies to put in the appropriate level of support for families who may need it. Students are encouraged to approach Mr Cooper or any staff member they feel at ease conversing with should they have a concern.

If you are concerned about the safety or welfare of your child, or a child you know you should act without delay.

In school you can contact:

• Mr I Cooper (Designated Safeguarding Lead) – 0191 4334026 – [email protected]

To speak with Gateshead Council’s Children’s Services (in confidence) contact:

• 0191 433 2653 (office hours: Monday – Thursday 9am – 5pm and Friday 9am – 4.30pm)
• 0191 477 0844 (out of hours, at night, at weekends and bank holidays)

The Emergency Duty Team will help with personal or family problems that reach a crisis at these times. All calls go through to the Gateshead Care Call Service where a telephone operator takes all the calls. This service is the contact point for all council services out of hours. If the phone isn’t answered straightaway, please be patient as they will be dealing with another call.