PGCE Safeguarding in Schools — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During PGCE training, what is a trainee's responsibility if they have a safeguarding concern?
- Report the concern to the school's DSL immediately, following the school's safeguarding procedures (Correct answer)
- Investigate the concern themselves
- Wait until their mentor is available
- Handle the concern discreetly without reporting
Correct answer: Report the concern to the school's DSL immediately, following the school's safeguarding procedures
Trainees have the same duty of care as qualified staff — any concern must be reported immediately to the school's DSL, following the school's safeguarding policy.
Question 2: What is the difference between 'safeguarding' and 'child protection'?
- Safeguarding is the broader activity of promoting welfare and preventing harm; child protection is the specific response when abuse or neglect has occurred or is suspected (Correct answer)
- They are interchangeable terms
- Child protection covers a broader range of activities than safeguarding
- Safeguarding only applies in early years settings
Correct answer: Safeguarding is the broader activity of promoting welfare and preventing harm; child protection is the specific response when abuse or neglect has occurred or is suspected
Safeguarding is the broader proactive framework — including health, safety, wellbeing, and preventing radicalisation. Child protection is the specific statutory response to abuse or neglect.
Question 3: What must a PGCE trainee understand about 'confidentiality' in relation to safeguarding disclosures?
- Confidentiality cannot be guaranteed when a child's welfare may be at risk — disclosures must be shared with the DSL (Correct answer)
- Pupils can be promised complete confidentiality in all circumstances
- Disclosures should be kept between the pupil and trainee unless the trainee decides they are serious
- Only qualified teachers are required to breach confidentiality
Correct answer: Confidentiality cannot be guaranteed when a child's welfare may be at risk — disclosures must be shared with the DSL
Trainees must not promise confidentiality to pupils regarding safeguarding matters — the safety of the child overrides confidentiality, and all concerns must be reported to the DSL.
Question 4: What is 'online safety' in the context of school safeguarding, and what is a teacher's role?
- Protecting pupils from online harms — teachers must model safe online behaviour, teach digital literacy, and report online safety concerns (Correct answer)
- Only the ICT teacher's responsibility
- Not a safeguarding matter — it is a curriculum issue only
- An issue only for secondary schools
Correct answer: Protecting pupils from online harms — teachers must model safe online behaviour, teach digital literacy, and report online safety concerns
Online safety is an integral part of school safeguarding — all teachers must be aware of online risks (grooming, cyberbullying, inappropriate content) and incorporate digital safety into their practice.
Question 5: What does 'professional boundaries' mean for a PGCE trainee in relation to pupils?
- Maintaining appropriate, professional relationships with pupils — avoiding excessive informality, personal disclosure, or private communication (Correct answer)
- Being cold and distant to avoid personal connections
- Avoiding all positive interaction with pupils
- Only relevant to secondary trainees
Correct answer: Maintaining appropriate, professional relationships with pupils — avoiding excessive informality, personal disclosure, or private communication
Professional boundaries involve maintaining appropriate relationships — warm and supportive but professionally appropriate, without crossing into over-familiarity or private communication outside sanctioned channels.
Question 6: What is 'Prevent' and what does it require of teachers?
- A government strategy to prevent radicalisation — teachers must be alert to signs of extremist influence and refer concerns to the DSL (Correct answer)
- A safeguarding strategy only for schools in high-risk areas
- A classroom management strategy
- A curriculum programme for Year 10 and above
Correct answer: A government strategy to prevent radicalisation — teachers must be alert to signs of extremist influence and refer concerns to the DSL
The Prevent strategy requires all education staff to have 'due regard to the need to prevent people being drawn into terrorism' — identifying concerns and referring them to the DSL who may initiate a Channel referral.
PGCE Safeguarding in Schools
During PGCE training, what is a trainee's responsibility if they have a safeguarding concern?