Our teachers
Teachers delivering tuition through GCSE Science Academy are appropriately vetted for their roles. Teachers working directly with children are required to have appropriate safeguarding awareness and relevant DBS checks.
Teachers are expected to maintain professional boundaries and appropriate standards of conduct when working with students.
Online lessons
Lessons are delivered through approved online platforms such as Zoom. Students should participate from an appropriate environment wherever reasonably possible.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to be aware of when their child is participating in online tuition.
Communication
Communication with students must remain professional and relate to tuition, homework, learning or legitimate educational matters.
Where appropriate, particularly for younger students, communication should take place through or with the knowledge of a parent or guardian. Teachers must not use their relationship with students for inappropriate personal communication.
Appropriate behaviour
Students and teachers are expected to communicate respectfully. Bullying, harassment, discrimination, sexualised behaviour, threats, abusive language or other inappropriate conduct will not be tolerated.
Where necessary, a lesson may be ended to protect the wellbeing of a student, teacher or other participants.
Safeguarding concerns
If a teacher becomes concerned about the safety or welfare of a student, the concern will be taken seriously and handled appropriately.
Depending on the nature and seriousness of the concern, this may include recording relevant information, contacting a parent or guardian, seeking safeguarding advice or making a referral to an appropriate safeguarding or statutory authority.
Where there is an immediate risk of serious harm, appropriate emergency services or authorities may be contacted.
Privacy and safeguarding
Student privacy is important, but confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where information indicates that a child or another person may be at risk of harm.
Information will be shared only where there is an appropriate safeguarding or legal reason to do so.
Parents and guardians
Parents and guardians are encouraged to:
- Provide accurate contact information
- Inform us of relevant information that may affect their child’s participation in tuition
- Ensure their child uses online tuition appropriately
- Raise any concerns about lessons or teacher conduct promptly
- Support their child in maintaining appropriate online behaviour
Reporting a concern
Parents, guardians and students can raise a safeguarding concern through our contact form. Please clearly mark the message as a safeguarding concern. Concerns will be treated seriously and handled as sensitively as circumstances allow.
Do not use the website form for an emergency. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999. For independent advice, contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000.
Review
This policy will be reviewed periodically and updated where necessary to reflect changes to our services, safeguarding practice or legal requirements.