Here are some safeguarding questions to ask at your headteacher interview:

Overview of School Safety Policies and Procedures

Can you give me an overview of the school's safety policies and procedures? How often is this policy reviewed and updated?

Communication of Safeguarding Policy

How do you communicate the school's safeguarding policy to students, faculty, parents, and other stakeholders, and how do you ensure that everyone understands their role and responsibilities in safeguarding?

Training and Professional Development

What training and professional development opportunities do you provide to employees to ensure they are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities and can identify and respond appropriately to concerns?

Pre-employment Screening

How do you ensure that all employees undergo thorough pre-employment screening, including DBS checks, to ensure that they are suitable for working with children?

Reporting and Responding to Safeguarding Concerns

What are your procedures for reporting and responding to safeguarding concerns, and how do you ensure that these concerns are taken seriously and addressed appropriately?

Collaboration with Outside Agencies

How do you collaborate with outside agencies, such as social services, to keep students safe, and what role does the school play in assisting these agencies in their efforts?

Student Safety and Addressing Inappropriate Behaviour

How do you make students feel safe and secure in school, and how do you monitor and address bullying, harassment, and other inappropriate behaviour?

Parental Communication and Involvement

What communication channels are in place to keep parents and carers informed and involved in safeguarding issues, and how do you involve them in safeguarding?

Regular Review and Updates of Safety Policies

How do you ensure that the school's safety policies and procedures are reviewed and updated on a regular basis to ensure that they remain effective and in line with current best practices?

Examples of Addressing Past Safeguarding Concerns

Can you give examples of how the school has identified and addressed safeguarding concerns in the past, as well as how the school has used these experiences to improve its policies and procedures?

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