Our Commitment to Keeping Students Safe
Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. Every student has the right to feel safe, valued, and supported, and we take our responsibility to protect and promote their welfare extremely seriously. All staff, governors, and volunteers share this commitment.
We work proactively with families, external agencies, and our wider community to ensure that students are protected from harm, know how to keep themselves safe, and feel confident to speak to trusted adults.
Safeguarding Culture of Vigilance
At On Track Westbury, safeguarding is not just a policy — it is a deeply embedded culture that shapes every decision we make. We believe every student deserves to feel safe, valued, and able to thrive. Creating this environment is the shared responsibility of every adult in our community. We foster a culture where:
- Students are listened to, taken seriously, and know they can ask for help
- Staff are vigilant, confident, and proactive in recognising and reporting concerns
- Parents & carers are partners, working with us to keep students safe in school, online, and in the community
- Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, not the job of one team or one individual
Our approach is rooted in professional curiosity, early help, and strong relationships. Staff understand the student they work with, the context of our local community, and the risks that may affect them. We use this knowledge to create a safe, nurturing environment where students can learn, grow, and develop the resilience to become the best version of themselves.
Our Safeguarding Team
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Rachel Edwards - Headteacher
Deputy DSLs (DDSL): Chris Gillam - Deputy Headteacher, Ronan Hanna - Assistant Headteacher (SENCO), Barry Farwell - Assistant Headteacher (Behaviour & Personal Development Lead), Kate Bamford - Family Liaison & Attendance Officer
Safeguarding Director: Jane Cox - Company Director
You can contact the safeguarding team via the school office or by emailing: otwsafeguarding@ontrackeducation.com
If you have a concern about a student’s safety or well-being, please speak to a member of the team immediately.
What Safeguarding Means at OTW
We follow statutory guidance, including Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) and Working Together to Safeguard Children.
Safeguarding in our school includes:
- Protecting students from abuse, neglect, and exploitation
- Preventing impairment of students’ health or development
- Ensuring students grow up in safe, caring environments
- Taking action to enable all students to have the best outcomes
- Promoting safe online behaviour and digital resilience
- Teaching students how to recognise risks and seek help
How We Keep Students Safe
We maintain a strong safeguarding culture through:
- Rigorous recruitment checks for all staff and volunteers
- Regular staff training on safeguarding, online safety, and contextual risks
- Clear reporting procedures for concerns, followed consistently by all staff
- A safe and inclusive curriculum, including PSHE/RSHE and online safety
- Risk assessments for activities, trips, and the school site
- Close work with external agencies, including social care, health, and police
- Support for families, including early help and signposting
Online Safety
Students learn how to stay safe online through our curriculum and assemblies. We teach:
- Safe use of social media and messaging
- Recognising scams, misinformation, and harmful content such as deep fake AI images
- Understanding privacy, digital footprints, and reporting tools
- Healthy online behaviour and respectful communication
Parents & carers receive updates and guidance to support safe use at home.
Attendance & Safeguarding
Good attendance is an essential part of keeping our students safe. When students are in school every day, we can build strong relationships, notice if something changes, and offer support quickly when needed. Unexplained or frequent absences can be a sign that a child or family needs help, which is why we follow up all absences promptly and work closely with parents & carers to remove barriers to attendance. Being in school regularly helps students feel secure, connected, ready to learn and ultimately to thrive in the wider world whilst upholding the TRACK values of TRUST, RESILIENCE, AMBITION, COMMUNITY & KINDNESS.
Reporting a Concern
If you are worried about a student, you can:
● Speak directly to your child’s Key Worker
● Contact the school office and ask for the safeguarding team
● Report concerns anonymously if needed
If a student is at immediate risk of harm, call 999.
Working With Parents & Carers
We believe safeguarding works best when school and families work together. We:
- Communicate openly and sensitively
- Encourage parents/carers to highlight issues outside the school that may have an impact on their child
- Share information when it helps keep students safe
- Offer early help and support
- Provide information and resources on online safety, well-being, and RSHE
Policies
Our safeguarding policies are available below:
If you require printed copies of any of the above policies, please contact the school office.
Maintaining a Culture of Vigilance
At OTW, we maintain high standards through:
- Regular, high‑quality staff training
- Clear, consistent reporting procedures
- Oversight from senior leaders and directors
- Clear alignment to our TRACK values
- A curriculum that teaches students how to stay safe, make positive choices, and seek support
- Open communication with families and external agencies
We are proud of the safeguarding culture in our school. It is built on trust, transparency, and a shared commitment to doing what is right for students, every day, in every interaction.
If you would like to know more about our safeguarding approach, we are always happy to talk about how we keep students safe.
You can contact the safeguarding team via the school office or by emailing: otwsafeguarding@ontrackeducation.com