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St James’ Catholic High School is a safe place to learn and work.

If you have any concerns regarding potential Safeguarding or Child Protection issues, please contact Dr Guscott directly, in line with our safeguarding policy.

We recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and protect the welfare of all pupils and staff. We endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure that children receive effective support, protection and justice.

Safeguarding legislation and government guidance says that safeguarding means:

  • 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

Safeguarding includes child protection, health care plans, health and safety, site security, safety on school trips, anti-bullying work and so much more.

The school’s Child Protection Team consists of: Dr Guscott (Designated Safeguarding Lead), Mr Maidment (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead), Miss Ellison (Pastoral Manager) and Mr Pontifex (Headteacher)

For further detailed information please see our Safeguarding policy:

 St James’ 2023/24 Safeguarding Policy

The school adheres to the following DFE Safeguarding documents:

The school has a suite of Safeguarding documents, which are reviewed regularly.

All staff receive annual Child Protection and Safeguarding update training and are aware of the procedures for passing on concerns within school. If any members of the school or local community have concerns about the welfare of a child in the school, please pass them on to the School Child Protection Team.

Safeguarding Children in Stockport

Operation Encompass

St James’ is an operation encompass school. Operation Encompass directly connects the police with schools, to secure better outcomes for children, who are subject or witness to police-attended incidents of domestic abuse. Rapid provision of support within the school environment, means children are better safeguarded against the short, medium and long term effects of domestic abuse.

Operation Encompass provides an efficient, confidential channel of communication between police forces and Key Adults within schools. This enables the immediate and discrete recognition of the child’s situation by the Key Adult, ensuring a secure and sympathetic environment is provided and the broader effects of abuse are addressed.

Operation Encompass is a charitable organisation set up in 2011, which has since enabled effective interventions to many thousands of children who have experienced domestic abuse. Their volunteers, trustees, and patrons are working tirelessly to ensure that police and schools, throughout the country, are able to address victims of domestic abuse consistently and coherently.

Click here to visit the Operation Encompass website.

Mental Health Support

There are a number of charities and organisations that you can turn to gain guidance a a parent or find support for your child. Click here to view the links to the relevant organisations that can help.

“Leaders ensure that staff are well trained and alert to the possible risks that pupils may face. Staff report even the slightest concern that they have about a pupil.”

Ofsted 2022

Jesus looked at them and said,
“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”

Matthew 19:26