"Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families and carers has a role to play in safeguarding children. To fulfil this responsibility effectively, all professionals should make sure their approach is child-centred. This means that they should consider, always, what is in the best interests of the child."
Keeping Children Safe in Education (CYPES, May 2021)
Designated Safeguarding Leads
If you have any concerns about the safety of a student at VCJ, you must contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or their Deputy. The College reception can contact a DSL at any time if you need to speak with them immediately.
Thank you for supporting the safeguarding of our students.
Report a Concern
To report a concern please click on the link below.
Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children (everyone under the age of 18) is defined in CYPES’ Keeping Children Safe in Education (May 2021) as protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children’s health or development; ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
Victoria College is committed to these principles and to provide a safe and welcoming environment, where children are respected and valued. We constantly strive to achieve an embedded culture of kindness and inclusivity. As a UN Silver Rights Respecting School we are committed to upholding the rights of our young people to be safe, to learn, and to be themselves. If these rights are upheld, children will develop self-confidence, feel empowered and be happy. Of particular importance to this policy are the following UN Rights of the Child:
- 12. Respect for children's views - Children have the right to give their opinions freely on issues that affect them. Adults should listen and take children seriously.
- 19. Protection from violence - Governments must protect children from violence, abuse and being neglected by anyone who looks after them.
To read the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy click here.
Counter Bullying Policy
It can be difficult to appropriately categorise bullying behaviours. Consequently, we adopt the definition of the Anti-Bullying Alliance also supported by CYPES, which states that:
Bullying is a subjective experience and can take many forms. To be classed as a bullying act the perpetrator needs to have a social and premeditated awareness that the act is malicious and will cause physical and or emotional harm. Bullying therefore can be classed as any behaviour that is:
Emotional and physically harmful
Carried out by an individual or a group
Deliberate and wilful with a premeditated intent to harm
Occurs more than once
Involves a sustained imbalance of power, leaving the person being bullied feeling threatened and vulnerable.
To access the Counter Bullying Policy click here.
Who can I talk to at College?
If you have any questions or worries, your first point of contact would be the Form Tutor. Assistant Head Student Progress, Anthony Griffin, is dedicated to pastoral care and has responsibility for all boys in Years 7 to 13. As the DSL, Mr Griffin coordinates a team of specialist professionals.
You can also contact our School Counsellor, Alicja Raffray.
The Sixth Form Peer Mentors are trained to support and guide the younger students, they are available to any student with a problem or anyone who would just like a chat.