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Special Educational Needs

​Please download the document below if you would like more information regarding our policy and arrangements for SEN at St Mark's.

Ms Aimee Gallagher

Vice Principal for Behaviour and Attitudes & Safeguarding Lead

Ms Julia Sener
SENDCo

SEND Dept

Ms Karen Taylor
Assistant SENDCO

Inclusion

Ms Nicola Van Zyl
Director of Inclusion and safeguarding

Safeguarding

‘The only reason why child abuse is alive today, is because we as adults fail our children when we fail to listen to them. Listen to a child today!’

Heather McClane

Are you concerned?

It is vital that if you see or hear something that concerns you, or if you think a child is at risk that you do something about it. It is your responsibility to let someone at St Mark’s know. The longer the abuse goes on, the longer it will take for a child to recover.

Your responsibility is not to decide if a student is being abused, that is the responsibility of the Child Protection professionals. Your responsibility is to act on your concerns.

The best thing to do is to talk to one of the Designated officers for child protection. 

Key personnel for safeguarding

Ms Aimee Gallagher

Vice Principal for Behaviour and Attitudes & Safeguarding Lead

AGallagher@stmarks.anthemtrust.uk

Ms Nicola Van Zyl
Deputy Designated Teacher
nvanzyl@stmarksacademy.org.uk

St Mark's Academy is a community based on Love, Hope and Trust. we recognise that all students need to be in an environment where they feel secure and are able to talk. Students trust that when they talk that they will be listened to and action will be taken when needed.

St Mark's Academy has:

  • A safeguarding and whistleblowing policy
  • A trained Senior Designated Person
  • a group of trained deputies
  • A Governor responsible for safeguarding
  • Up to date training for all staff on safeguarding
  • CRB checks are caried out on all staff at St Mark's
  • St Mark's prides itself on the high standard of positive working relationships it has with external agencies: Police, local safeguarding boards, school nurse and many other local agencies.