Safeguarding

There are three main objectives to safeguarding at our academy:

1. To keep all students and staff safe, both in and out of school

2. To make sure that students feel safe in school and can be the best version of themselves

3. To encourage students to talk openly about any problems so staff can help

This is achieved in the following ways:

1. Every person at Dixons Pennine Academy (staff, student or visitor) is responsible for keeping themselves and others safe.

2. Students should understand how to keep themselves and others safe inside and outside of school, including when online.

3. There is a dedicated safeguarding and pastoral team in school to help all students and staff keep safe.

4. Everyone at our academy takes responsibility for reporting any concerns to family members and staff at school.

Dixons Pennine Academy prides itself on safeguarding its students and staff. All staff at Dixons Pennine receive regular safeguarding training, with specific safeguarding responsibilities being under the leadership of the designated safeguarding lead (DSL). Further to this, the academy has a designated safeguarding and welfare officer and 5 non-teaching pastoral leaders, one assigned to each year group. 

Students follow a Personal Development curriculum that educates students how they can keep themselves safe and look after themselves when needed. Further to this, the academy regularly signposts the support that is available both within the academy and from external services. 

Any member of our community who may have a safeguarding or wellbeing concern can contact us be emailing via ca-safeguarding@dixonspa.com

We have a number of staff trained as additional deputy designated safeguarding leads to support Mr Ishtiaq, Mrs Gallimore and Mr Chris Coe. To support the mental health and wellbeing of students and staff, the academy also has a dedicated team of mental health first aiders.

Our Safeguarding staff are:

• DSL: Mr Ishtiaq

• DDSL: Mr Coe

• Safeguarding Officer: Mrs Gallimore

Wider Safeguarding Team:

• Mrs Deakin

• Mr Jones

• Mrs Heselton

• Mrs Wilde

• Mr Kennerley

• Me Rabnawaz

• Mrs Dillon

Helpful services for keeping children safe online:

In order to support our students and families, it is vital that we support to reduce the risks children encounter online by getting up to date on how they use the internet and other digital platforms. Students must feel safe, which is whether they are at school, at home or using different platforms.

If you need to report something that has happened, or that you have seen online, you can access the following places for help:

• UK Safer Internet Centre - to remove and report harmful and online content
• Child Exploitation and Online Protection– for advice on making a report about online content

There are many organisations that can provides important information, useful resources and guidance and support for families and students.

Support for families

All staff have regular safeguarding training to ensure that pupils can always find someone to talk to when the need arises. Please see a list of support availability to families:

Online Safety

Please see the useful websites and guides below, designed to help keep your child safe online

CEOP –  https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/

NSPCC – https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/

Parent Zone – https://parentzone.org.uk/

Child Net – https://www.childnet.com/parents-and-carers/

Parents Protect – https://www.parentsprotect.co.uk/

Parent Zone guide to TikTok – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO6UApuPdaI