Safeguarding
At Hodge Hill Girls’ School, safeguarding is the foundation of our school community. We believe that promoting the welfare of children and protecting them from harm is the responsibility of every adult within our setting. Everyone who comes into contact with children and families has a vital role to play, and we take this responsibility seriously.
We are committed to a child-centred approach to safeguarding. We understand that our pupils want to feel respected, heard, and supported in a safe and trusting environment. Building strong, stable relationships with staff, based on mutual trust and care, is essential to our safeguarding culture. We work to ensure each pupil receives consistent support for her individual needs.
- Headteacher: Mrs S Adu
- Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Miss S Nawaz
- Pastoral Director & Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL): Mrs S Amin
- Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Co-ordinator: Miss E Taylor
What is Safeguarding?
- The action we take to promote the welfare of all children and young people and protect them from harm.
- Taking early action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes.
- Ensuring all children and young people grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care.
- Preventing impairment of children and young people's mental and physical health or development.
- Protecting children and young people from maltreatment.
It is everyone’s responsibility to keep children safe, and we all have the right to feel safe in and outside of school!
Here at Hodge Hill Girls' School, we have a strong initiative in place for the safeguarding and well-being of staff, students, parents, and the wider community around us.
It is our determination that pupils/parents have access to well-being information all year round, with necessary support available, and providing the safety and openness for individuals to share their worries.
Working Together to Keep Pupils Safe
Hodge Hill Girls’ School works in close partnership with a range of external agencies and professionals to ensure pupils have access to specialist support when needed. This includes:
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West Midlands Police
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Birmingham Children’s Trust
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Compass Birmingham Mental Health Teams
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School health and mental health services
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Local counselling and youth support organisations
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Community-based safeguarding initiatives
Safeguarding Through the Curriculum
Our Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education programme plays a key role in delivering safeguarding information and guidance to pupils. This programme is delivered through Personal Development sessions by tutors, and is regularly enriched by external speakers and organisations, ensuring pupils benefit from expert knowledge and lived experiences.
Topics Covered Across Years 7–11
The PSHE curriculum addresses a wide range of age-appropriate topics, including:
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Physical and mental health
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Puberty, body changes and emotional wellbeing
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Personal safety and consent
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Relationships and sex education
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Bullying and peer-on-peer abuse (including online)
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Equality, diversity and tackling discrimination
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Online safety and digital resilience
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Careers, finance and decision-making
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Community values, law, and democratic responsibility
Through this curriculum, pupils learn how to recognise risks, understand their rights, protect themselves and others, and know how and where to access support.
Report Bullying
All pupils at Hodge Hill Girls' School can fill in a form in confidence to report concerns of bullying which they themselves, or someone they know, is experiencing.
Another way of reporting a concern is to speak to a member of the pastoral team or any member of staff that the pupil feels comfortable with. This is then followed up by our Head of Years and wider pastoral team.
Hodge Hill Girls' School staff use CPOMS to report concerns that are followed through by the pastoral team.
Reporting Concerns
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Parents / Carers |
HHGS Pupils |
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Resources for Parents/Carers
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Mental health is something we all have, and it plays a vital role in our overall well-being, just like physical health. Sometimes referred to as emotional health or well-being, it affects how we think, feel, and cope with life.
Everyone experiences ups and downs. Feeling sad, anxious, or overwhelmed from time to time is normal. In most cases, these feelings are temporary, but for some, they can become more persistent and may signal a deeper issue. Mental health challenges can affect anyone, regardless of age or background.
If you'd like to learn more about mental health—how to recognise signs that something might be wrong, and where to find support, visit:
- Mental Health Foundation
- Types of mental health problems
- NHS information and support for mental health
- Anger management in children: how parents can help
- Statutory Services for Birmingham Families
- NHS - Sleep Tips for Teens
- PFA Vulnerable Adult Service
- Hub of Hope
- Kooth Digital Resources
Keeping Your Child Safe Online
Stop it now! - How to Tell if a Child's Sexual Behaviour is Age Appropriate?
Advice for Parents and Carers: Mobile Phones
Advice for Parents and Carers: Laptops
Advice for Parents and Carers: Games and Consoles
Advice for Parents and Carers: Tablets
Identifying Changes in Eating Patterns for Young People
Online Grooming
Online grooming happens when someone builds a relationship with a child or young person over the internet with the goal of gaining their trust for harmful reasons. This can lead to serious risks, including being pressured into sharing personal or inappropriate content, or even facing abuse, either online or in person.
Grooming often starts in a friendly or seemingly harmless way, but it is a form of manipulation and exploitation. It’s important to stay alert, know the signs, and speak up if something doesn’t feel right.
https://www.internetmatters.org/resources/online-grooming-guide-what-parents-need-to-know/
Sexual Violence and Harassment
Sexual harassment is any unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature that makes you feel upset, uncomfortable, or unsafe. It can make you feel humiliated, intimidated, or create an environment where you don’t feel respected or secure.
This includes things like being called offensive sexual names, receiving unwanted comments about your body, or having rumours spread about you. It can happen face-to-face, over the phone, or online.
Experiencing sexual harassment can have a serious impact on your mental health, including feelings of anxiety, low mood, or trouble sleeping.
You’re not alone, and support is available.
You can always speak to a trusted adult here at Hodge Hill Girls' School. There are also external organisations that can help:
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NSPCC Helpline – For young people and parents/carers: 0800 136 663
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Email support: help@nspcc.org.uk
Additional websites that offer information and support include:
Child Criminal Exploitation
Criminal exploitation, often referred to as 'county lines', is when gangs or organised crime groups target and groom children to transport and sell drugs. Young people are often pressured or manipulated into travelling to different areas, using specific mobile phone ‘lines’ to carry out drug deals.
This type of exploitation puts children in dangerous situations and can have serious, long-term consequences.
It’s important to be aware of the signs and know where to get help.
Find out more from the following trusted sources:
You can also find more information about local support through Birmingham Children’s Trust, which provides help and protection for children and young people at risk.
Child Sexual Exploitation
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is a form of sexual abuse. It happens when a child or young person is manipulated or pressured into sexual activity in exchange for something they want or need, such as gifts, money, attention, drugs, or status.
Abusers often groom their victims, making them feel cared for or loved to gain their trust. In many cases, the young person may believe they are in a real relationship and might not realise they are being exploited or abused.
CSE can affect anyone, regardless of background, and it can happen both online and in person.
To learn more about CSE, how to spot the signs, and where to get help, visit:
Radicalisation
Radicalisation is the process by which an individual begins to adopt extremist views or support harmful ideologies. This can lead to involvement in activities that are dangerous or even linked to terrorism. It is recognised as a serious safeguarding concern and a form of harm.
Extremism refers to promoting hatred, violence, or intolerance—especially where it threatens the rights and freedoms of others, or seeks to challenge or replace the UK’s democratic values and systems.
It's important to be aware of the signs of radicalisation and to know where to turn for support.
Useful Resources and Support:
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Educate Against Hate – A government-backed site offering advice for school staff, parents, and pupils on spotting signs of radicalisation and preventing extremism.
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NSPCC – Radicalisation – Information for parents and carers on what radicalisation is and how to help protect children.
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ACT Early (Counter Terrorism Policing) – Support for families and individuals worried someone may be at risk of radicalisation. Includes a confidential helpline.
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Prevent duty guidance – Official government guidance for schools and childcare providers.
Modern Slavery
Child trafficking is child abuse. It's defined as recruiting, moving, receiving and harbouring children for the purpose of exploitation (HM Department for Education (DfE) and Home Office, 2011; Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and Police Service of Northern Ireland, 2011; Scottish Government, 2013; Wales Safeguarding Procedures Project Board, 2020).
Child trafficking is a form of modern slavery (HM Government, 2014).
Many children are trafficked into the UK from overseas, but children can also be trafficked from one part of the UK to another.
Further guidance:
https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/child-abuse-and-neglect/child-trafficking-and-modern-slavery
Child-on-Child Abuse
Child-on-child abuse happens when one young person (under 18) harms, bullies, or exploits another. This kind of abuse can take many forms, including:
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Physical or sexual abuse
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Sexual harassment or sexual violence
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Emotional harm
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Bullying (including online or cyberbullying)
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Abuse within teenage relationships
It’s important to recognise that abuse between peers is still abuse and should never be ignored or minimised.
For more information and support, visit:
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NSPCC – Peer-on-peer abuse
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Childline – Bullying and Abuse
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Kidscape – Advice for children, parents, and schools on preventing and responding to bullying
Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse isn’t just being hit or threatened, but it is controlling behaviour, as well as put-downs and emotional abuse. It can make you feel like you’re not capable of escape, or that you’re worried about your children or another family if you leave.
There is support out there:
Women’s Aid www.womensaid.org.uk
The National Domestic Abuse Hotline nationaldahelpline.org.uk 0808 2000 247
They’re safe, secure and open 24-hours a day. The telephone numbers are also freephone, so don’t worry if you don’t have credit.
It is proven that children who witness domestic abuse in their lifetime, especially by their parents, have a higher risk of mental health and wellbeing worries, being a victim of domestic abuse themselves and behavioural worries.
Food Banks
We believe no one in our community should have to face hunger. That’s why we signpost families and individuals in need to Birmingham Central Foodbank.
The foodbank offers three days’ worth of nutritionally balanced emergency food and practical support to local people experiencing crisis. Access is through referral, and we are here to help guide anyone who may need support.
If you or someone you know is struggling, please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information about how to get help.
Helpful Links
