A big part of working in UK schools is the safeguarding of students. While this is practiced in international schools, the UK has a specific structure in place, and every member of staff that comes in contact with students has a legal responsibility to ensure their safety and well-being.

As of September 2024, the “Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023” guidance will be updated to the “Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024” guidance. This guidance outlines the legal duties required to safeguard and protect the well-being of children in schools. It promotes children’s well-being by providing early help, protecting against abuse in various settings (including online), preventing harm to their mental and physical health or development, ensuring they grow up in safe environments, and taking proactive steps to ensure positive outcomes for all children.

Schools typically offer training opportunities to keep staff up to date with current safeguarding information, but it is imperative that you are fully aware of your safeguarding responsibilities prior to arriving in the UK.

Additionally, it is highly likely that you will be asked at least one safeguarding question during your interview.

Sample question 1:
Safeguarding is a critical aspect of our school’s responsibility to protect the well-being of our students. Can you describe a situation from your past experience where you had to address a safeguarding concern? What steps did you take to ensure the safety of the student involved, and how did you handle the situation in accordance with the relevant policies and procedures?

Sample response:
While teaching at Kingston High School, a student confided in me about experiencing verbal abuse from a peer. I reassured the student that I would help to resolve the matter by speaking to the relevant people to get him help.
I documented the incident thoroughly, ensuring I only included the student’s account without any personal opinions and reported the issue directly to the Dean of Discipline.

Together with the Dean of Discipline, we informed the student’s parents and arranged for mediation between the students involved. We also initiated a school-wide campaign on respect and kindness. As a result, the bullying stopped, and the student felt much safer and happier at school.

Sample question 2:
Safeguarding is a top priority at our school, and it’s crucial for all staff to know who to contact in case of a safeguarding concern. Can you explain how you would handle a situation where a student discloses a safeguarding issue to you? Specifically, who would you contact and what steps would you follow to ensure the concern is addressed appropriately?

Sample response:
If a student discloses a safeguarding issue to me, my priority is to ensure the student’s immediate safety and reassure them that they did the right thing by speaking up. I would explain that I need to share the information with specific people who can help, and that I cannot keep it a secret.

I would then document the student’s disclosure accurately, ensuring I only included the facts without any personal opinions. Then, I would report the incident to the school’s designated safeguarding lead (DSL) or a deputy, ensuring that all actions taken are in line with the school’s safeguarding policies.