Safeguarding

At Malone College the safety, wellbeing, and protection of our pupils are at the heart of everything we do. In accordance with our statutory duties under the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 and the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 2003, our school operates under a strict principle that the welfare of the child is paramount.

We are fully committed to providing a safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environment where every child feels secure, valued, and respected.

Our Responsibilities & Commitment

• A Culture of Vigilance: We maintain a proactive safeguarding culture where all staff, governors, and volunteers are trained to recognise signs of harm, abuse, or neglect, and understand their legal duty to act.
• Clear Reporting Procedures: We follow robust, mandatory procedures for identifying, recording, and reporting safeguarding concerns. Any action taken is guided by the best interests of the child.
• Safer Recruitment: We enforce rigorous vetting, screening, and AccessNI checks for all staff, external coaches, and volunteers before they interact with our pupils.
• Partnership with Parents: We believe in open, honest communication with parents and carers. While we aim to work in partnership with families, our overriding legal and moral obligation will always be to protect the child.
• Multi-Agency Cooperation: Where necessary, we work closely and seamlessly with external agencies, including the Education Authority (EA), Health and Social Care Trusts, and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), to ensure children receive the right support at the right time.

Our Child Protection Policy

Our comprehensive Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy outlines the detailed structures, roles, and emergency procedures active within our school. This policy is reviewed annually by our Board of Governors to ensure it reflects the latest statutory guidance from the Department of Education (DE) and the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI).

A full copy of our policy is available to download, or a hard copy can be requested directly from the school office