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Keeping Safe

It is vital to us that you keep safe when you are in school, at home, out and about or online. If you ever feel worried you can get help and support in several different ways. 

You can talk to any member of staff, including:

  • your form teacher
  • your head of year
  • your key stage leader
  • the pastoral team
  • any other teacher or adult in school

If you want to talk to someone, but are a bit unsure about what to do, then you can leave a note at the student services office or use the link below to get help.  If you report a concern someone will find you to have a chat.

No matter what your concern, childline are also always there to help. 

Bullying

What is bullying?

Bullying is the wilful, conscious desire to threaten, intimidate or hurt someone, which may be repeated over time, which involves a real or perceived power imbalance.

This means that a bully is someone who hurts another person, usually more than once, by using behaviour which is meant to scare, hurt or upset that person.

It is important to remember that single problems and falling out with friends are not usually bullying.

Types of bullying can include: Emotional bullying, Physical bullying, Verbal bullying and Cyber bullying

Bullying can also be: Racist, Homophobic, Sexist, Disablist or Discriminative.

It can sometimes be done through another person, by one person sending another person to say nasty things. 

If you want to report bullying speak to your form tutor, head of year, head of school or any member of staff.

There are some useful links on the right if you want support with bullying issues.

E-Safety

What is E-Safety?

Internet safety or online safety or cyber safety or E-Safety is trying to be safe on the internet and is the knowledge of maximizing the user’s personal safety and security risks to private information and property associated with using the internet, and the self-protection from computer crime.

What can you do to be safe?

  • If in chatrooms, always use a nickname, don’t give people you don’t know your personal information like full name, mobile number etc. You wouldn’t do this straight away on the street, so why do it online?
  • Be very careful about what kind of picture, if any, you post onto the internet as people could alter it and use it for other purposes.
  • If you are being harassed on-line, report this abuse via the link on the website and leave the area (i.e. chat room, instant messaging).
  • If you receive nasty messages through e-mail or IM, block the sender and report them to the website. Never reply to harassing messages.
  • Never meet a chatroom buddy in the real world without a trusted adult accompanying you first – better safe than sorry!
  • Remember, not everyone on the Internet is who they say they are. It is like meeting a stranger in the street, you would not believe everything they tell you at first, would you?

How can you report an e-safety issue?

In our school there are members who of staff who are trained to help with any E-Safety issues. You can speak confidentially with Miss Halliday (Designated Safeguard Lead), Miss French (Assistant Designated Safeguard Lead) or your head of year. If you don’t feel comfortable speaking with staff, you can always report the issue online with CEOP.

Remember – always be SMART!

Mental and Physical Well-being

The mind affects the body and the body affects the mind. What helps one helps the other, so it is very important that we look after both our mental and physical health.

If you have a problem and would like to speak to somebody in confidence in school, in the first instance, please go to Alpha 2 and speak to Mrs Williams or Miss Halliday. If they can’t help they can signpost you to someone or an organisation that can offer support. 

Please be mindful that there are contact numbers and web-pages in your planners that may also help.

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a type of child abuse. It happens when a young person is encouraged, or forced, to take part in sexual activity in exchange for something. The reward might be presents, money, alcohol, or simply just the promise of love and affection. 

It might seem like a normal friendship or relationship at the beginning, but the young person might be persuaded to do sexual things they don’t want to do in return for something.  

The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. Child sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology.  

 If you need any further information and/or advice please see either Miss Halliday or Mrs Williams based in Alpha 2.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

If you or someone you know has issues with drugs, alcohol or smoking that are worrying you, you can talk to your Head of Year, Mrs Williams or Miss Halliday in the Alpha centre. They can refer you to the Health Mentor or Change, Grow, Live (CGL- Drug & Alcohol Service) who can give you confidential, specialist advice and support.

You can find more information about  drugs, alcohol and smoking using the links.  

Safety Whilst Out and About

All children can be vulnerable sometimes, and it is only natural to worry about your safety. More crimes are committed against teenagers than any other age group. If you are worried, you can help to protect yourself with these common-sense tips:

  • stay alert, and don’t always wear your headphones, so you can hear what’s going on around you
  • stick to busy, well-lit roads, and avoid short cuts through alleyways
  • if you think someone is following you, you should cross the road or go to a place with lots of people around, like a bus stop or shop
  • its worth carrying a whistle or shrill alarm around your neck or on a key chain to warn off suspicious strangers
  • when travelling by bus, you should try to use bus stops on busy roads
  • if someone tries to take something from you, don’t fight them for it
  • keep mobile phones and other valuables out of sight to avoid attracting attention
  • don’t carry weapons because they are more likely to be used against you, and it’s illegal

Also, remember that you need to take responsibility for your own safety by avoiding danger wherever possible; take care when crossing the road, steer clear of railway lines, take great care near water, and don’t get caught up with the illegal use of fireworks etc.

Old Road, Hyde,
Cheshire, SK14 4SP
T: 0161 366 7533
E: [email protected]