Safeguarding
Safeguarding
Welcome to the website section on Safeguarding and Child Protection which is a requirement of all schools. Our ethos and values underpins a child centred approach to ensure all children are safe and happy in an environment that promotes mutual respect and high self-esteem.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined in the Children's Act 2024 and the Working Together Statutory Guidance as:
- 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 to have the best outcomes.
At Whitley Bay High School we take the health and wellbeing of our students very seriously. We are proud that safeguarding has a high profile, and our everyday practices support our commitment to keeping our students safe. All staff have been trained to follow procedures and understand policies which have been outlined through the Keeping Children Safe in Education (2026) publication (available below) and local guidance issued from North Tyneside’s Safeguarding Children’s Board. This includes when to make recommendations for children who will benefit from Early Help. Additional to this, the following roles have been appointed within school:
CHILD PROTECTION AT WBHS
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Sarah Fitzpatrick
Lead Governor for Safeguarding and Child Protection
Lara Lillico
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads
- Andy Sherlaw
- Sarah Lackenby
- Steve Williams
- Helen Daglish
- Richard Chambers
- James Mackenzie
- Ian Clark
- Carl Cockburn
- Jonathan Okwe-Pearson
- Naomi Anderson
- Charlotte Clark
- Emma Crow
- Zoe Medhurst
- Jill Branch
- Ian Peake
Where we have any concerns about a child’s welfare, we will take all appropriate action to address those concerns by working in full partnership with other agencies as outlined by the local authority and Keeping Children Safe in Education (2026) publication which is available below.
Our commitment to safeguarding extends beyond responding to concerns; it includes proactively educating students to make safe, informed decisions. Our Personal Development Curriculum plays a vital role in this, providing age-appropriate learning on topics such as online safety, healthy relationships, mental wellbeing, risk awareness, and personal responsibility. Through a carefully planned programme, students develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to stay safe, both in school and in the wider world.
You can access our Personal Development Curriculum via the link below:
