Safeguarding

BSA Commitment to Care Charter

The Commitment to Care Charter is BSA’s fundamental statement of the importance of safeguarding and child protection in our schools. Every BSA member worldwide is expected to subscribe to the fundamentals of the Charter:

  • BSA schools are committed to the highest duty of care and safeguarding
  • Everyone working in a BSA school will raise concerns immediately
  • Member schools will follow all statutory safeguarding guidance and laws and report concerns to the relevant authority and the BSA
  • BSA schools will support any present pupils affected by abuse and those who report concerns, and offer support to past pupils
  • BSA will support member schools that responsibly follow the Charter.

BSA COMMITMENT TO CARE CHARTER – SEPTEMBER 2023

Please click on the link below to see further guidance about reporting issues to BSA:

CHARTER  – GUIDANCE FOR REPORTING

Supporting victims

BSA has issued a statement in response to both new and historic abuse in boarding schools, and a guidance page is available for staff receiving disclosures:

BSA SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT

PROVIDING ADVICE AND SUPPORT TO SURVIVORS OF ABUSE

SUPPORTING VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF ABUSE – ENGLAND

SUPPORTING VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF ABUSE – SCOTLAND

Safeguarding resources

SACPA WEBSITE (SAFEGUARDING AND CHILD PROTECTION ASSOCIATION)

OFSTED REVIEW OF SEXUAL ABUSE IN SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

EDUCATION FOR A CONNECTED WORLD

PROMOTING BEST PRACTICE – LEARNING SAFEGUARDING LESSONS FROM RECENT SERIOUS CASE REVIEWS – SECOND EDITION, NOVEMBER 2016

 

Government and other guidance – England

WORKING TOGETHER TO SAFEGUARD CHILDREN

KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE IN EDUCATION 2020

SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT GUIDANCE

INFORMATION SHARING: ADVICE FOR PRACTITIONERS

SAFER WORKING PRACTICE 2019 UPDATE

SAFER WORKING PRACTICE 2020 ADDENDUM

The Parents’ Guide to Teaching your Teen Online Safety

COVID-19 – Guidance for Full Opening Schools

 

Government Guidance – Scotland

Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) – Link to the website

Scottish Government: : National Child Protection Guidance

 

Government Guidance – Wales

ALL WALES CHILD PROTECTION PROCEDURES – UPDATED 2020

Keeping Learners Safe Guidance for Wales (updated April 2021)

Peer-on-peer Guidance for Wales

 

 

Government Guidance – Northern Ireland

NI CHILD PROTECTION GUIDANCE

 

Safeguarding inquiries

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) concluded its public hearings in December 2020, and the final report into the residential school strand of the inquiry is expected soon.

Link to the IICSA website

THE TRUTH PROJECT PRODUCED A REPORT IN NOVEMBER 2017 INTO THE IMPACT OF HISTORIC ABUSE

The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry is ongoing:

Link to the Scottish Inquiry website

An extensive report was published in Australia in 2017

Australian Royal Commission website

TABS, our sister association in the USA, have made us aware of a report into child sexual abuse from the USA:

PREVENTION AND RESPONSE

A SHORT BSA SUMMARY OF THE DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE HERE