Safeguarding
Safeguarding at Rochester
Rochester Independent College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all students. We believe every student has the right to learn and develop in an environment that is safe, caring, inclusive and supportive, and to be protected from all forms of abuse, harm and exploitation, both in the physical and online world.
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility at RIC. All adults within the College receive appropriate safeguarding training to help them recognise when a student may need additional support, respond appropriately to concerns and follow the College's safeguarding procedures. Our approach is holistic and reflects the needs of both day and boarding students, recognising that safeguarding extends beyond the classroom and throughout all aspects of College life.
Students are supported to understand how to keep themselves and others safe through the curriculum, everyday conversations and their interactions with staff and peers. Online safety is an important part of this approach. The digital world provides significant educational and social opportunities, but we recognise that it can also expose young people to risks relating to content, contact, conduct and commerce. Through education, open conversations and appropriate responses to concerns, we aim to give students the knowledge and confidence to make safe and informed choices online.
We are committed to listening to our students and ensuring that their views, wishes and experiences are heard through both formal and informal opportunities. Their welfare and best interests remain central to the decisions we make and the development of our safeguarding practice.
We encourage anyone who has a concern about the safety or wellbeing of a student, including concerns arising online, to speak to a member of the safeguarding team. Further information about our safeguarding arrangements and online safety, including guidance on recognising and responding to online risks and links to useful external support and reporting organisations, can be found within our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
Key contacts
Kayleigh Simpson, Director of Safeguarding
kayleigh.simpson@rochester-college.org.uk
Phone: 01634 828115.
Evenings and weekends (including during holiday time) 07495 742288
The nominated governor with responsibility for Safeguarding is Paul Ludlow.
paul.ludlow@dukeseducation.com
Phone: +44(0)7584 012 130
Dukes House, 58 Buckingham Gate, London, SW1E 6AJ
The independent listener is available for all boarding students who would like to raise any worries or concerns with someone independent to the college.
Helen Rose can be contacted on 07483 169350. You can also contact Helen at helen.rose@rochester-college.org.uk.
Medway Safeguarding Children Partnership
Phone: 01634 336 329
Medway Council Social Care
Phone: 01634 334 466
Social Care Out of Hours’ service Phone: 03000 419191
Phone: 01634 331065
"As Children’s Commissioner I take on a crucial role, sitting at the heart of Government, delivering for children, and championing their voices and needs. As a former teacher, headteacher and school trust leader for over 30 years, I have seen first-hand how passionate and compassionate children are. This is an ambitious generation that wants to succeed in life, but that also wants to play its part in improving the world around them. They need us, as adults, to listen to them and ensure they get the right help to fulfil their true potential."
You can contact the children's commissioner by completing this contact form.
Dame Rachel De Souza
The college provides excellent support and guidance which enhances students’ personal development. It is highly successful in its aim to develop self-knowledge and self-esteem.
Support for our students
Whisper provides everyone in the school community a safe place to talk, report or highlight issues and concerns. When you don’t know where to go or who to turn to, Whisper can provide a light in the dark.
Whisper allows students to report any issues or concerns they may be having, anonymously, through SMS messaging or via email.
If you need to report anything, please follow this link.
Alternatively, you can send a message to 07860 021 323 starting your message with RIC1 to report via SMS
The school will respond as soon as we can.
For more information on Whisper, please use the following links from SWGfL (South West Grid for Learning – a charity who specialise in online safety and developed Whisper)
The RIC Student Support website has been developed by Rochester Independent College to give students a clear, accessible place to find advice, guidance and appropriate sources of support. It helps students understand where they can turn for help both within RIC and through specialist external organisations, covering areas including physical and emotional health, healthy relationships and sexual health, online safety, diversity, substance misuse and emergency support. The site also provides students with information about how to raise concerns and access anonymous reporting, helping ensure that support is easy to identify and access when it is needed.
At RIC we believe in supporting our students to find their direction
Supporting students
