Safeguarding

Safeguarding is a cornerstone of education in the UK, ensuring that children are protected and supported, and that the environment they are in is equipped to react to issues and situations that they face. At Langley, we have a large safeguarding team, led by a DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead) on each school site. We also have a Safeguarding Governor on the Board of Governors. Our DSLs ensure that all staff are regularly trained on all aspects of safeguarding, from identifying risk to notifying the appropriate authorities where required.

The Safeguarding Team

Mrs Kim Goodby – Safeguarding Governor kgoodby@langleyschool.co.uk

The Senior School Safeguarding Team

Abigail Bussey – Designated Safeguarding Lead, abussey@langleyschool.co.uk
Vicky Codling – Head of Boarding & Deputy DSL, vcodling@langleyschool.co.uk

The Prep School Safeguarding Team

Mr Ed Wood – Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) ewood@langleyschool.co.uk

All schools must comply with statutory guidance such as Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), issued by the Department for Education (DfE). This document outlines the duties of schools to protect children from harm, including neglect, abuse, exploitation, and bullying. The Independent Schools Standards Regulations also impose specific safeguarding obligations, ensuring that schools maintain robust systems to promote student welfare.

At the heart of safeguarding is the principle that every child has the right to feel safe and secure. This involves proactive measures, such as rigorous recruitment checks for staff under the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), as well as comprehensive policies on child protection, anti-bullying, and online safety.

Staff play a critical role, as safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. At Langley we invest in ongoing professional development to keep our staff informed about emerging risks, such as online grooming, radicalisation, county lines, and mental health issues. We also work with our pupils to ensure they understand when and how to escalate any concerns, either about their own situation or that of a peer.

Boarding presents a set of additional challenges, and we are highly attuned to creating an environment that supports children who are away from home. This extends to 24/7 supervision, ensuring that facilities are secure, making sure that provisions are in place to support positive behaviour, and promoting a culture of openness where any concerns can be voiced.

We also benefit from small class sizes, allowing staff and pupils to forge strong relationships. This environment fosters early identification of issues and a collaborative approach to addressing them.

Risks to childrens’ welfare continue to evolve, with misuse of AI, county lines and cyber-bullying becoming more prevalent in society.

Beyond the professional development support we offer staff and the focus on safeguarding that we deliver during PDE lessons, we also offer support to parents. This takes the form of regular communications home and support delivered through in-person meetings and webinars.

In short, we believe that effective safeguarding is much more than regulatory compliance. It is an integral part of the culture and workings of the school. We care, we are vigilant, and we will act to support children in our care.