| 5 minute read | DSLs and Safeguarding Teams |
Introduction
There have been protests by some students at a number of schools which are trending on TikTok. Typically there is a school rule that students are protesting about. In some schools there are protests about sexual harassment by some students, including allegations that students are photographing other students in unisex toilets.
It is important if you hear about such issues to ensure school leaders are aware. Where there are allegations such as indecent images being taken without the awareness of students you should follow your child protection procedures and in such serious incidences involve the Police and children’s services in line with these procedures.
Sensible steps include to address other disruption include:
- always beginning with your setting’s values, the importance of student voice, the need for listening and dialogue to ensure students feel heard
- ensuring relevant staff are aware and that student and staff safety is always prioritised
- listening carefully to the mood music of your setting and catching things early to explore themes with students in small groups with confident staff and senior leaders
- involve your student council in the development and approval of new rules or practices so that a number of perspectives can be obtained. Students disagreeing with such measures can be encouraged to use this body proactively to effect change in line with British values
- ensuring students are aware of other formal and informal routes to raise issues, and enable them to build trust in these mechanisms by taking their concerns seriously
- exploring learning themes around rights and the support of your setting for pedagogical dissent. Schools can take a positive position on supporting “students’ right to protest without taking a stand on those views themselves” (Harvard Graduate School of Education, 2017)
- reinforcing your student code of conduct to be clear about acceptable boundaries of behaviour with all pupils, drawing on the behaviour guidance and resources published by the Department for Education, especially in respect of online behaviour and sexual harassment
- look to external advice, such as from Safeguarding Network about safeguarding concerns or the NAHT (member resource)
- avoid drawing attention to the online elements of these behaviours in line with the DfE guidance as it encourages students to search for and thereby promote these posts
Planning ahead is important and even if your setting is unaffected this may be an opportune moment to explore at SLT how your setting would respond to a student protest so that differences of view can be explored and a united and rehearsed position put into practice.
Finally, adolescence is a time of exploration, anxiety and passion. Creating a strong culture that provides the emotional holding for young people through these important developmental stages is skilled and crucial work. You are trained and experienced to do this work well and have the trust of their students, parents and local community to get this balance right.
