Safeguarding

Hockerill Anglo-European College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We have a suite of policies and procedures in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitments, including our Child Protection Policy which can be viewed below. Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child’s welfare. We will ensure that our concerns are discussed with student's parents first unless we have reason to believe that this would be contrary to the child’s welfare. The College actively supports the Government’s Prevent Agenda to counter radicalism and extremism.

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Alasdair Mackenzie (Vice Principal).  Our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads are Sam Carroll (Assistant Principal: Director of Boarding), Jonathan Ellams (Assistant Principal), Lucy Tinnirello (Head of Student Health and Wellbeing) and Clare Mackinlay (Pastoral Manager)

H3447 DSL Student JUNE 23 New Staff

Click on the poster for a larger image.

Pastoral Care Statement

At Hockerill College we believe in delivering high quality pastoral care to ensure that students are happy and feel safe in College; we know that this is fundamental to students being able to develop as knowledgeable, enquiring and caring global citizens through excellence in education.   

All staff at Hockerill College have a duty of care towards students.  The safeguarding of our students and promotion of their welfare are of paramount importance. Each student is a member of a Tutor or Form Group.  Within each Tutor Group there are an equal number of members of each of the four Equipe (House) groups.   

Each Tutor Group is headed by dedicated educational professionals who are responsible for the day-to-day pastoral care of their tutees.  This includes monitoring punctuality and attendance, uniform and general organisation for the day.  Form Tutors take a keen interest in the achievements of their tutees, both academic and extra-curricular.  Students are encouraged to engage with their Form Tutor, informing them of any notable successes or achievements outside of College and of any change in personal circumstances.  Through their daily contact with their tutees, Form Tutors develop a familiarity which enables them to identify any emerging cause for concern, early. Form Tutors are also responsible for developing the identity of the Tutor Group and encouraging a culture of mutual respect and participation.  Form Tutors encourage their tutees to apply for positions of responsibility within the College community and support students through the application process. 

Additionally, the Form Tutor’s role is to communicate key information to their tutees, ensuring that they have full access to all the opportunities which are presented by and exist within the College, (eg extra-curricular activities) as well as ensuring that tutees have an understanding of College policies and procedures.  Students may need different levels of pastoral care in their time at Hockerill. For some this may be on an ongoing basis whereas others may need more support during periods of particular stress, anxiety or worry. Many students need little additional support but nonetheless benefit from the nurturing environment of their Form Group and the College’s wider pastoral structures.  

The College’s culture of pastoral care means that in addition to staff, students are also encouraged to look after and support each other, both in our community and in wider society. All of our College charity and fundraising work is facilitated by Form Tutors and this helps to cultivate in students an awareness and understanding of local, national and global issues. Opportunities are given to students to take on roles of responsibility, lead on fundraising and offer care to others less fortunate than themselves.  

In addition to Form Tutors, all students within our Boarding Community have a named House Tutor who sees them regularly to discuss their academic progress and any boarding issues. The Director of Boarding, along with the Heads of House are available to discuss pastoral care with parents and further information can be found in the Boarding Guide for Students and Parents, found within the Boarding section of the College website. 

Each year group has a Head of Year who develops and maintains an awareness of every student within their year group.  The Head of Year will monitor changing personal, social and academic circumstances and disseminate any information to colleagues as appropriate, whilst providing any additional support needed by the student, including coordinating any necessary supportive intervention.  The Head of Year has an overview of the entire year group and is therefore well-placed to manage any issues which cross the boundaries between the different Tutor Groups.  The Head of Year is also responsible for the coordination of information and reports from subject teachers and where necessary, will meet with parents to promote academic progress, inclusion and the removal of barriers to learning.  

The Head of Year will regularly inform parents of students’ progress and will facilitate timely intervention strategies where appropriate.  The Head of Year works closely with parents to ensure the most efficient and effective solutions to any issues using a range of both internal and external resources and agencies as appropriate. 

Parents can best support their child and the College by keeping lines of communication open. Informing the College of any worries or concerns that they feel may impede their child’s learning is vital in enabling the College to provide the most appropriate pastoral care.  Parents may wish to contact their child’s Form Tutor, a specific subject teacher, a Head of Department or Faculty or Head of Year and this should be done by contacting the College Office in the first instance via the student year email address e.g. year7@hockerill.com

 

Report a concern (for student's use)

Report a Concern

At Hockerill, we pride ourselves on the pastoral care we provide to students. Staff at Hockerill are highly experienced in supporting students with all kinds of problems and we work together to get you any help you may need. Many staff will have previous experience of helping students with difficulties similar to those which you may face, whether they relate to College or life outside of the school gates.  

This webpage enables you to get additional help and advice about a wide range of issues such as those listed below; 

  • You are being bullied 

  • You are concerned about someone else being bullied 

  • You are feeling unhappy at school 

  • You are feeling stressed about exams 

  • You are concerned a crime may have been committed 

  • You are concerned about your own safety 

  • You are concerned about someone else's safety 

  • You are worried about your own or another person’s behaviour 

  • You or a friend are unhappy at home 

Students - if you want to report any concerns either speak directly to any member of staff or click on the REPORT A CONCERN heading at the top of the page which will take you to a form to complete.

This is a CONFIDENTIAL way to help stop YOU, a FRIEND or SOMEONE ELSE, FROM SUFFERING. 

You will be given the option to either include your name and details or to send your report anonymously.  However, it is easier for us to follow up your concerns if you give us your name so that we can ensure that you get the right help. Please be assured that we will deal with your concern in a way which will protect your identity if this is necessary to keep you safe. 

What happens when you make a report using the Report button? 

A notification will be sent to the College’s Safeguarding Leads and the most relevant member of staff will be asked to you to offer support. Dependent on the nature of the report, it may be either a Form Tutor, Head of Year/House or one of the Safeguarding Leads. We may also consider asking external professionals to help support you. 

How quickly will someone contact you? 

Your report will be sent to the Safeguarding inbox which is checked daily.

THIS IS NOT AN EMERGENCY SERVICE. If your concern is urgent you must speak to an adult immediately as reports are read once a day.

If you have an urgent child protection concern about a student at Hockerill (including yourself), you must contact one of the agencies below.

Hertfordshire Children's Service - 0300 123 4043 

Police - 999 (when a child is in immediate risk of harm) or 101 (non-emergency) 

NSPCC - 0808 800 5000 

 

Report a concern (for parents' or visitors' use)

If you are a parent and you would like to report a safeguarding concern, please email the email address below: 

Third Party Disclosures It's everyone’s responsibility to report concerns related to children and make referrals to Children Services and the Police if suspected that a child has been abused or is at risk of abuse. Therefore, when safeguarding concerns are shared with the Designated Safeguarding Lead in a school by a parent or member of the public, it is important to note that there is equal responsibility by the complainant to report the matter also directly rather than assume the responsibility is that of the school. If unsure of how to do this speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead / Principal and they will advise accordingly. 

 

Wellbeing resources for students

If you need immediate help outside of College hours please refer to the details below: 

  • Hockerill Student Wellbeing Team: Student Wellbeing is a place for you to find information and advice on managing your wellbeing. The Tabs include useful weblinks and the Files include a number of resources from reliable sources - these have been grouped into different themes. We add to the resources regularly to try and provide as much up to date information as we can. There is an opportunity for you to ask for help in the 'Report a concern’ tab. If you are unable to access the Student Wellbeing Team, please email your Head of Year to report this 

  • NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health For information on common mental health conditions, plus audio files and videos on coping with specific mental health conditions. 

  • Mind: www.mind.org.uk.  National mental health charity whose website contains lots of information on mental health conditions and contact details for local Mind counselling services. 

  • Beat: www.b-eat.co.uk. National charity supporting those with eating disorders. Website offers message boards and helpline. 

  • FRANK: www.talktofrank.com. National drug education service. Website offers live chat, helpline and email answering services as well as information. 

  • Childline: www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/your-feelings/sexual-identity. Information pages about sexual identity and gender. 

  • CEOP: https://www.ceop.police.uk/Safety-Centre/How-can-CEOP-help-me- law enforcement agency there to help keep children and young people safe from sexual abuse and grooming online and give advice. You can make a report directly to them if you are worried about online sexual abuse or something has happened online which has made you feel unsafe, scared or worried. This might be from someone you know in real life, or someone you have only ever met online.