SAFEGUARDING ASSEMBLY

1. SAFEGUARDING ASSEMBLY KEY INFORMATION TO KEEP YOU SAFE

2. KNIFE CRIME- a reminder • It is a criminal offence to have in a public place any item that has a blade, or is sharply pointed. This includes scissors, kitchen knives and craft knives and it is not legal to carry a knife for self-defence. • It is illegal for anyone under 18 to buy a knife of any sort. • If you are caught by police carrying a knife, even if it was for your protection or you were carrying it for someone else, you will be arrested and prosecuted. • If you are caught at school carrying a knife or a weapon, even if it was for your protection or you were carrying it for someone else you will be permanently excluded. • If you use a knife, even in self-defence, you could be charged with assault with intent, or even worse. • You can go to prison even if you didn’t use the knife. • Police can stop and search anyone they believe is carrying a knife. BRITISH VALUES

3. KNIFE CRIME – ReMINDER • Carrying a knife significantly increases your chances of getting stabbed yourself. • If someone is injured or killed by a knife in your presence, you could be prosecuted even if you didn’t touch the knife. You could even go to prison for murder in what is called ‘joint enterprise’. • There is no ‘safe place’ to stab someone. A wound in the arm or leg can still kill someone if an artery is severed. • If a knife punctures an artery you can bleed to death within five minutes. • A criminal record for knife use or possession can stop you from being accepted into college or university, and can make it much harder to get a job. Many countries will refuse to let you in, such as the USA, Canada and Australia. If you ever hear or know of someone who is carrying a knife/weapon you must not keep silent. You have a responsibility to report it to Ms Nottage/Mrs Freegard or you can: Call Crimestoppers0800 555 111 it's free, anonymous and available 24/7. BRITISH VALUES

4. FGM – FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION • Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is also known as female genital cutting, female circumcision or initiation. FGM is a collective term used for a range of practices involving the removal or alteration of parts of healthy female genitalia for non-medical reasons. Common reasons for FGM generally relate to tradition, inequalities of power and ensuring compliance of girls and women to the dictates of their communities. Family members sometimes support FGM to conform to social/cultural norms and women may see their own FGM as necessary to ensure acceptance by their community. BRITISH VALUES BRITISH VALUES FGM is a form of violence against women and girls and as such, it is against UK law to undertake or arrange FGM either within the UK or abroad. It is regarded as child abuse and a violation of human rights.

5. FGM – FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION • FGM has no health benefits and harms women and girls in many ways; both emotionally and physically. FGM causes severe pain and has immediate health risks, and can be extremely painful and dangerous. It can cause severe pain, bleeding, infections such as tetanus, HIV and hepatitis B and C, organ damage, blood loss and possibly even death. • Long term medical consequences, include difficulties during pregnancy or childbirth, infertility, urinary problems and emotional and mental health problems. • The age at which FGM is carried out varies. It may be carried out when a girl is new-born, during childhood or adolescence, just before marriage or during pregnancy. • FGM is illegal in the UK. However, recent studies indicate that significant numbers of women and girls (approximately137,000) living in the UK are living with the consequences of FGM and that many may be at risk. If you ever hear or know of someone who is at risk of/has had FGM. You have a responsibility to report it either to Ms Nottage/Mrs Freegard or you can: Call the FGM helpline 0800 028 3550, it's free, anonymous and available 24/7. BRITISH VALUES

6. COLLEGE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AMBER ALERT PROCEDURE An Amber alert is an incident where a student or member of staff is ill or injured on site and we need the corridors to remain partially or fully clear. • Upon notification of an Amber Alert students and staff should remain in classrooms or offices (even during lesson changeover) and will be notified once the matter has been dealt with. • An amber alert means there is no threat to anyone’s safety, however, we will not allow a student to leave a classroom under any circumstances. • SLT and Leaders of Learning will walk the college site and update staff once the alert is over.

7. COLLEGE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES RED ALERT PROCEDURE A red alert is an incident where there is an immediate threat to students’ and staff safety and the college has to go into ‘Lockdown’. Upon notification of a Red Alert students and staff MUST remain in classrooms and offices and take the following measures to keep themselves and others safe:  • CLOSE WINDOWS • TURN OFF LIGHTS • MOVE AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND THE MAIN DOOR AND SIT UNDER THE DESKS. • DO NOT USE PHONES AND DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CONTACT THE OFFICE OR ANYONE BY TELEPHONE AS THIS COULD BLOCK PHONE LINES AND PUT THEMSELVES AND OTHERS AT RISK. • REMAIN WHERE THEY ARE UNTIL THE EVACUATION ALERT IS SOUNDED (IF THE FIRE ALARM GOES OFF THIS IS THE ONLY OCCASION IT SHOULD BE IGNORED) • WHEN THE EVACUATION ALERT IS SOUNDED, EVACUATE IN SILENCE TO THE MUSTER POINT ON GEORGE ROW.

8. College SafeGuarding INFORMATION • Designated Safeguarding Officer: Ms Nottage • Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer: Mrs Freegard • Overall responsibility for Safeguarding: Ms Corcoran