Safeguarding

What is Safeguarding?

Safeguarding at Dover Girls plays an essential role in keeping Young People safe in school and in our local community. As a school we have rigorous Safeguarding processes in place to identify, report and investigate concerns and signpost to the most appropriate support for that young person.

Dover Grammar School for Girls takes its responsibility for Safeguarding our young people very seriously. We follow the definition of Safeguarding as set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education.

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:​

• Providing help and support to meet the needs of children as soon as problems emerge​

• Protecting children from maltreatment, whether that is within or outside the home, including online​

• Preventing the impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development​

• Making sure that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care ​

• Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes(Children includes everyone under the age of 18)

Safeguarding the needs and safety of young people at DGGS always comes first and we are committed to safeguarding our students, staff and visitors. We expect all staff, volunteers and visitors to share this commitment. This is because Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Further information on visitor’s responsibilities can be found on our Safeguarding leaflet on the link below.

Safeguarding Contacts

The school has a broad and experienced team of Designated Safeguarding Officers (DSO) who are led by the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Ms Robyn Widdup, Deputy Headteacher.

Additionally, the school have appointed Designated Safeguarding Officers (DSOs) who have delegated responsibilities and act in the DSLs absence.

These are:

• Valerie Mitchell, Assistant Headteacher

• Sarah Bartlett, Assistant Headteacher/ SENCO

• Geraldine Fleutre, Head of Key Stage 3

• Sarah McDermott, Head of Key Stage 4

• Laura Read, Head of Key Stage 5

Reporting Safeguarding Concerns

If you have any Safeguarding concerns, one of our safeguarding team will be available during school hours (8.45 am – 3.35 pm). Please contact them on safeguarding@dggs.kent.sch.uk or ring the main school number should you need to speak to anyone.

Outside of school hours, any Child Protection and Safeguarding concerns should be reported to the Kent Social Care and Health ‘Front Door’ – 03000 411111 (outside office hours 03000 419191) and/or the Police on 101/999.

Staff training and Awareness

All staff have been trained to be able to detect signs that a young person is not thriving or being subject to abuse or neglect and any concerns will be acted upon in line with our Safeguarding procedures.

All staff are trained at least annually on Keeping Children Safe in Education and other key safeguarding aspects.

Operation Encompass

Please be aware that we work closely with Kent Police and engage directly with Operation Encompass. The aim of Operation Encompass is to provide school safeguarding leads with information relating to children that have been involved in, or witnessed, a domestic abuse incident. The provision of this information is to ensure that the appropriate care and welfare is in place for the child whilst they are at school. 

Online Safety 

For more information about online safety, please click here.