Safeguarding
Merchants' Academy is committed to the vital contribution all Governors, teaching and non teaching staff make to safeguarding and the protection and welfare of children and young people. We aim to ensure that all child protection and welfare concerns and referrals are handled sensitively, professionally and in ways that support the specific needs of the individual child. Through providing a caring, safe and stimulating environment which promotes the social, physical and moral development of all our students, we aim to foster an atmosphere of trust, respect and security.
A copy of the Academy's Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy can be downloaded from this page.
The Student Support Centre provides the central provision for student welfare within the Academy.
Merchants' Academy Safeguarding Team
Designated Safeguarding Lead for Secondary Mrs Sharon Beesely
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead Secondary: Miss Emma Tatters (Safeguarding Manager)
Designated Safeguarding Lead for Primary is Mrs Sarah Flannigan (Head of MA Primary)
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads for Primary are:
Mrs Lisa Bannister ( Deputy Head)
Mrs Amy Greenslade (Family Support Worker)
Mr Joshua Bassett (Assistant Head)
Mrs Kelly Shearing (Pastoral)
Mrs Kelly Phipps (Pastoral)
Deputy Designated Safeguarding leads for Secondary are:
Ms Lynn Broome (MA Secondary)
Miss Emily Shelton (MA Secondary)
Ms Hannah Green (Assistant Head)
Who's Who at Merchants' Academy Primary? - safeguarding-poster-November-2024.pdf
Who's Who at Merchants' Academy Secondary? - Safeguarding-Poster-MAS-3.pdf
Learn about the Bristol Safeguarding Board website here
Merchants' Academy Primary Safeguarding Policy 2024-2025 CP-and-Safeguarding-Policy-2024-25-MA.docx
Safeguarding is…
- How well pupils are taught to keep themselves safe
- How well the school protects pupils from bullying, racist abuse, harassment or discrimination, and promotes good behaviour
- The effectiveness of health and safety policies and procedures
- The effectiveness of arrangements to provide a safe environment and secure school site
- How well the school meets the needs of pupils with medical conditions
- How appropriately child welfare and child protection concerns are identified and responded to by the school
- How effectively the school works with key agencies to safeguard and promote the welfare of children
- The extent to which the school ensures that adults working with children are appropriately recruited and vetted, and receive appropriate training, guidance, support and supervision to undertake the effective safeguarding of pupils.
Our culture of vigilance
At Merchants' Academy we:
· Believe safeguarding and protecting children is everyone’s responsibility
· Identify signs of concerns immediately
· Train all our staff to the highest level
· Keep all staff updated with new guidance and policies
· Monitor attendance thoroughly
· Have rigorous monitoring of vulnerable students
· Communicate regularly with external agencies
· Listen to our students
· Care for each other
· Have an open culture
· Support students and their families
· Teach our students to keep safe at all times
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