Fort Pitt is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of all students and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We strive to ensure that consistent and effective safeguarding procedures are in place to support families, students and staff at school. 

 

The Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mr Andrew Ost (Deputy Headteacher). Safeguarding issues can also be raised with any Head of Year, Student Support Manager or the Student Wellbeing Lead. The team is available at 8am-4pm Monday to Thursday and 8am-3.30pm Friday. They can be contacted via the main school number 01634 842359 or send an email to safeguarding@fortpitt.co.uk.

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Safeguarding legislation and government guidance states that safeguarding means:

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• Protecting children from maltreatment

• Preventing impairment of children’s health or development

• Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care

• Taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcome

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All staff receive annual Child Protection and Safeguarding update training and are aware of the procedures for passing on concerns within school. Their training includes the fact that it is everyone’s responsibility to RECOGNISE, RESPOND and REPORT any concerns about the welfare of a child or young person. More specifically they learn of:

 

• ​The steps they must take to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students with whom they are in contact

• How to respond appropriately to disclosures and concerns

• How to make appropriate decisions and take appropriate action in a safeguarding situation

• The rules concerning confidentiality, and how to record and share information

• Changing responsibilities in the area of child protection

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Should you be visiting the school:

​Please observe the following guidelines:

• Do not initiate verbal or physical contact with students unless it is appropriate and a part of the agreed reason for your visit

• Do not give any personal information to students, such as your mobile number or email address

• Do not give students details of your personal social network accounts or engage in any communication with students using social networking sites.

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If a student makes a disclosure to you, do not promise confidentiality; explain that you will need to talk to someone else and then contact the team personally or via the email mentioned above.  

 

STUDENT SUPPORT TEAM

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INTENT

​Our student support team is concerned with the promotion of pupils’ personal and social development and wellbeing. Through our student support provision we demonstrate our continuing concern for our students actively encouraging them to be safe, successful and a fully participating member of the school and wider community.

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We firmly believe that happy students are successful students and at Fort Pitt Grammar School we do our utmost to create a caring, sympathetic and inspiring environment in which the students can thrive.  Our committed team support and encourage every student to grow socially and academically. They are given opportunities to develop self-awareness, self-confidence and resilience which will equip them for adult life.  We seek to broaden the students’ aspirations and remove any barriers they may have to their achievement.

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IMPLEMENTATION

​We daily promote safe, happy and supportive environment where students are regularly contacted to ensure they are:

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• Nurtured by staff to grasp opportunities at every stage of their development.

• Provided with expert care and support when needed by form tutors, Heads of Year and non-teaching Student Support Managers.

• Learning to respect and accepting their responsibilities as global citizens.

• Encouraged to develop into confident, well-balanced, resilient and intellectually curious young people ready to face the challenges ahead.

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This is implemented through the high-profile importance of form tutoring, early help strategies for those struggling and the embedding of The Fort Pitt Values and the need to ensure that all students have equal access to the opportunities the school provides in order to raise student aspirations.

 

EMERGENCY SAFEGUARDING CONTACT NUMBERS

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Fort Pitt Reception

01634 842359

 

Site Team

07828 805 783

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If you have an emergency safeguarding issue and cannot contact the school,

contact the police directly on 101

 

Medway Safeguarding Children Partnership (MSCP)

01634 334466

(out of hours 03000 419 191), or click here to access their online referral form.

 

NSPCC Whistleblowing

0800 028 0285

or email, help@nspcc.org.uk

 

If any members of the school or local community have concerns about the welfare of a student in the school, please pass them on to the Safeguarding team at safeguarding@fortpitt.co.uk. 

 

If an allegation is made against a member of staff, this should be reported to the Headteacher via headteacher@fortpitt.co.uk or to the Chair of Governors if that allegation relates to the Headteacher

 

For further information please refer to our policy and procedures section

 

Thank you for helping to keep Fort Pitt Grammar School safe.

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ON-SITE SAFETY 

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FIRE AND EVACUATION

 

• The alarm is a continuous bell. You must leave the building by the nearest fire exit

• A member of staff will will escort you to the assembly point and ensure that you are recorded as present

• Do not take any personal risks

• You must not re-enter the building until told it is safe to do so.

 

LOCKDOWN PROCEDURE

 

• The school has a lockdown procedure that is used in emergencies only. This only happens when there is an immediate threat to staff, student and visitor safety 

• When lockdown occurs, a continuous siren sounds and will not stop until we are confident that everyone is safe 

• Please follow staff guidance in a lockdown situation and await further instructions. 

 

FIRST AID

 

• If you need first aid or feel unwell please report to Reception where you can be seen by a qualified first-aider. 

• Students should not contact home to arrange a collection without first speaking to a member of staff.

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ONLINE SAFETY

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Technology is now a vital and exciting part of our working and social lives. At Fort Pitt Grammar School, our students and staff use technology in many forms to support learning and teaching. The school systems are managed to protect staff and students from any risk.

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Internet use in school is filtered and monitored and there are restrictions in the use of devices that have direct access to the internet in lesson time.

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KEY INFORMATION FOR PARENTS/CARERS

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• In Year 7 all students study E-Safety as part of Computer Science lessons.

• Yearly whole school assemblies make clear to students that we will always contact parents/carers, social services, and the Police if students are found to have sent, possess or shared inappropriate images of themselves or other children under 18, even if they prove to be Googled images and the student is over 18 themselves.

 

KEY TIPS FOR BEING SAFE​

 

• Only email people that you know (why not set up an address book?)

• Never open an email sent by someone you do not know, even if it has familiar phrases or offers you something.

• Never send or tell other people your passwords.

• When using direct messaging, websites etc. be careful and know how to block and report unwanted users.

• Never use your real name when using games or websites on the internet, (create a nick name)

• Never give out any personal information about yourself, friends or family online including home address, phone, or mobile number

• Never email your school name or a picture in school uniform (even to a friend)

• Never arrange to meet anyone on the internet unless you know them in real life.

• Only use a webcam with people you know and remember those images can be sent anywhere.

• Tell an adult that you trust immediately if you find anything that you are unhappy or uncomfortable with.

• Be aware comments you or your children make on Social Network, Blogs and Wikis and images that you send can be viewed by others. (Applies to X-Box, PlayStation etc)

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We all need to be aware of issues regarding children’s e-safety; their safety on the internet, on social messaging sites and when texting using mobile phones. To help you to support this work at home, you can visit the following sites as parents/carers, and/or with your children, to give you more information and support in dealing with issues around e-safety.

 

IMPORTANT ORGANISATIONS AND REPORTING

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ThinkUKnow

Families can visit www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents to access advice and support on how to keep children safe from sexual abuse, both online and off. Articles provide guidance on topics as diverse as: challenging harmful sexual attitudes and promoting positive behaviours; helping a child with autism negotiate life online; supporting a child who has been sexually abused; and dealing with a range of online issues such as sending nude selfies and viewing pornography. Users will find films, downloadable guides, and useful links to support organisations.

 

Thinkuknow is a site in which the information is brought to you by the team at the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP). Here you can find the latest information on the sites young people like to visit, mobiles and new technology. Find out what is good, what is not and what you can do about it. There are resources for parents and teachers and, most importantly, a place which anyone can use to report if they feel uncomfortable or worried about someone they are chatting to online.

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Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP)

Reporting abuse www.ceop.police.uk

 

The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) delivers a multi-agency service dedicated to tackling the abuse and exploitation of children in the real and the “e” world. CEOP was set up in April 2006 and has received over 50,000 reports of abuse to date. A key focus of CEOP is the Think U Know website and education strategy to teach young people, teachers, and parents/carers about e-Safety and the  “Report Abuse” button to report online abuse or suspicious behaviour, that can be used by adults (parents/carers, professionals etc) and young people. There is also a suite of resources to support children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) including children with mild to severe learning difficulties, are blind or have a hearing impairment.

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Internet Matters

https://www.internetmatters.org/ 

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Internet Matters is a non-profit organisation which gives parents key information about how to keep their children safe online. Online issues such as Cyberbullying, Online Reputation, Sexting and many more are covered in detail. 

 

The site also provides parents with age restrictions, setting controls and guides to a variety of apps.

 

INFORMATION FOR VISITORS TO SITE

 

We hope that your visit will be enjoyable, informative and safe. Please help us by reading and complying with the guidance contained within this webpage, which is intended to ensure your health and safety whilst at Fort Pitt Grammar School. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact a member of staff who will be happy to help. 

 

Should you be visiting the school:

​Please observe the following guidelines:

​

• Do not initiate verbal or physical contact with students unless it is appropriate and a part of the agreed reason for your visit

• Do not give any personal information to students, such as your mobile number or email address

• Do not give students details of your personal social network accounts or engage in any communication with students using social networking sites.

​

If a student makes a disclosure to you, do not promise confidentiality; explain that you will need to talk to someone else and then contact the team personally or via the email mentioned above.  

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SECURITY

All visitors and contractors coming into the school must sign in at Reception using our electronic system. Please ensure your visitors pass and lanyard are clearly visible at all times. 

 

If you are working unsupervised with students, you will be asked to produce your DBS certificate, together with proof of identification, i.e. passport or driving licence. Without this you may not be granted access.

 

MOBILE PHONES / PHOTOGRAPHS

Visitors may not use mobile phones to take photographs of the school, staff or students.

 

FIRE AND EVACUATION

• Your host will explain what to do in the case of emergencies and fire alarms

• The alarm is a continuous bell. You must leave the building by the nearest fire exit

• Stay with your host as they will escort you to the assembly point and ensure that you are recorded as present

• Do not take any personal risks

• You must not re-enter the building until told it is safe to do so.

 

LOCKDOWN PROCEDURE

• The school has a lockdown procedure that is used in emergencies only. This only happens when there is an immediate threat to staff and student safety 

• When lockdown occurs, a continuous siren sounds and will not stop until we are confident that students and staff are safe 

• Please follow staff guidance if a lockdown situation does occur and await further instructions from Fort Pitt staff who will take you to the nearest safe place. 

 

FIRST AID

If you need first aid or feel unwell please report to Reception where you can be seen by a qualified first-aider. 

 

CONTRACTORS

• Contractors must ensure that they follow any health and safety guidelines that may apply. By doing so, you will assist us in meeting the requirements of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974

• Contractors working within school hours must hold a valid DBS enhanced disclosure certificate and produce a copy or details thereof.

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SMOKING AND VAPING

Fort Pitt Grammar School operates a no smoking policy. Please do not smoke or vape anywhere on the school site. If you do wish to smoke, then please leave the school site and away from any school signage. 

 

CAR PARKING

• All vehicles and their contents are left at the owner’s risk

• Please observe the speed limit of 5mph anywhere on the school site 

• Please follow the one-way arrows and signage at all times, displaying disabled badges if using a disabled parking bay.