At Finchley Catholic High School, our unwavering commitment is to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, with an expectation that all staff and volunteers share in this crucial responsibility.
Our approach to safeguarding extends beyond child protection for individual students; it encompasses fostering a positive, caring, safe, and stimulating environment that supports the spiritual, social, physical, and emotional well-being of each individual.
Recognising both our moral and statutory obligations, we are dedicated to providing a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued. Our vigilance includes being attuned to signs of abuse and neglect, ensuring that our procedures are diligently followed to provide effective support, protection, and justice for children.
To uphold these principles, we have implemented a comprehensive Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, which all staff, including supply staff, volunteers, and governors, must be familiar with. Parents and carers are encouraged to review this policy, accessible on our Policies page.
Our commitment aligns with the procedures outlined by the Barnet Safeguarding Children Board (BSCB), incorporating guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) and the document 'Keeping Children Safe in Education.' In situations where concerns about a child's welfare arise, we may collaborate and share information with other agencies, always ensuring that discussions with parents/carers take place unless contrary to the child's welfare.
Key aims include:
Our commitment to safeguarding is not only a policy but a shared ethos that ensures the well-being and safety of every child within our school community.
Our designated safeguarding lead is Carly Rendell, contactable via crendell@finchleycatholic.org.uk
If you have a safeguarding concern about any of our students then please contact by email crendell@finchleycatholic.org.uk.
If you have a safeguarding concern outside of school hours please contact the police on 101 or, if it is an emergency, contact 999.
The pervasive influence of technology in our lives is undeniable. While the internet and other technological tools are invaluable in education, it is equally crucial to recognise the potential risks users may face. Ensuring that everyone can employ technology safely and responsibly is a shared responsibility.
With the continuous emergence of new technologies, operating around the clock, it becomes challenging to stay ahead, especially concerning children's use of technology. To aid parents/carers in navigating the digital landscape, several informative websites offer guidance on online safety:
By staying informed through these resources, parents and carers can actively participate in creating a safe online environment for their children. It is essential to adapt and stay vigilant in the ever-evolving landscape of technology to foster responsible and secure digital practices.
We consistently advocate and generate educational materials on e-safety for parents and carers, disseminated through the Albanian newsletter.
The NSPCC defines bullying as "Bullying is behaviour that hurts someone else. It includes name calling, hitting, pushing, spreading rumours, threatening, excluding or undermining someone repeatedly.” It can happen anywhere – at school, at home or online. It's usually repeated over a long period of time and can hurt someone both physically and emotionally.
Direct forms of bullying encompass physical violence, threats, verbal assaults, property destruction, extortion, and unwanted sexual interest or contact. Indirect forms include ignoring, withdrawal of friendship, malicious gossip, abusive graffiti, and cyberbullying.
Identifiable types of bullying include physical (e.g., hitting, kicking), verbal (name-calling, teasing), emotional (unfriendly behaviour, exclusion), and cyber (misuse of email, chat rooms, threats via mobile phones or social websites). Importantly, there is no hierarchy of bullying; all forms are equally serious and warrant appropriate intervention.
At Finchley Catholic High School, we firmly believe in every child's right to attend school and learn within a secure environment, free from harm inflicted by both adults and fellow students. Any form of bullying contradicts our core values and ethos and is unequivocally unacceptable. We are committed to addressing and resolving any instances of bullying promptly.
Acknowledging that, like any large institution, instances of bullying may occur, we are resolute in our determination to address such issues swiftly, fostering an environment where all students feel safe, respected, and supported in their academic and personal growth.
We encourage students to report bullying and can do so anonymously via expressyourself@finchleycatholic.org.uk
Although incidents are thankfully rare, we treat online bullying very seriously and students and parents/carers are encouraged to report any issues to the school. Parents/carers should be advised that most social networking sites have a minimum age restriction of 13 years of age so younger students should not have accounts with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the like.