Safeguarding is a priority at King Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls’ Academy and we endeavour to keep our students safe at all times. We have a dedicated Child Protection team (also known as our Safeguarding Team) that comprises of the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and a team of deputies. Our DSL is Mrs M Sahonta and she can be contacted by email on msahonta@hwga.org.uk. You can also call her on 0121 554 8122.
There is also a strong Student Welfare Team who are always available for young people and families for advice and support. Please contact the academy if you need any support for your daughter.
The Student Welfare Team are always available for children and young people to talk to about any worries or concerns that they may have.
The Student Welfare Team are:
- Senior Assistant Headteacher – Pastoral Care and Standards
- Assistant Headteacher – Welfare and Wellbeing (Lead DSL)
- SENCO and EAL Lead
- Safeguarding Manager
- Pastoral Managers
- Heads of Year
- Health and Wellbeing Lead
- Form Tutors
- Attendance Officer
Our School Help Advice Reporting Page (SHARP) System.
Our Safeguarding Team can and will help with any problems or issues you may have inside or outside of our academy. Furthermore, if you see or hear of any issues that concern you (eg a problem that your friend or another student may be facing) then you are welcome to report these to our Safeguarding Team too using this system.
All members of the Student Welfare Team hold at least one of the following qualifications, in order to ensure that all of our students receive the best care from us:
- Mental Heath First Aid
- Physical First Aid
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Diploma
- Drawing and Talking Therapy
- ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), which is suicide prevention training
Furthermore, we work closely and tirelessly with the appropriate agencies in order to secure external support for our students when required from qualified counsellors, an Educational Psychologist and mental health nurses to name but three.
Please see below for links to external websites that young people and families can access for support with mental health and wellbeing issues:
Mental health support for residents of Birmingham
Charity that supports young people’s mental health.
Charity for prevention of suicide
NHS website giving advice on healthy lifestyles.
Advice and support for children and young people on all matters.
Charity to help young people use online resources safely.
Bereavement support for young people.
Bereavement support for young people.
- Standards – Supporting you to meet our standards by ensuring frameworks are student-friendly for you. Flowcharts and clear guidance from specialist staff are provide
- Attendance – Ensuring our attendance strategies are reflective/purposeful and bespoke to each and every one of you. We have regular meetings including many staff to ensure a holistic approach to your attendance.
- Safeguarding – Wide approach to ensuring safeguarding you is considered at all times. Giving you, your families and staff routes to report and assist promptly.
- Mental Health Support / Mentoring – We have trained counsellors and mentors both internal and external and including a Health and Wellbeing lead to support you and your families. You can self refer to services and drop-in to available clinics.
- Specialist Staff – We have a wide and varied staff team including trained counsellors/mentors/ trained behaviour specialists and staff who are specialists in their key stages.We have a number of deputy Safeguarding leads to ensure support is consistent and reflective of the needs of you.
- Climate for Learning – Holistic approach towards Quality of Education and Climate for your learning.Ensuring that both elements support one another and work hand in hand.
- Rewards – Supporting you through precise praise using HPL Language.
Our wonderful pastoral team have put together a number of presentations for you to explain their roles and the systems we have in place to support our students.