BSA Commitment to Care Charter
The Commitment to Care Charter is BSA’s fundamental statement of the importance of safeguarding and child protection in our schools. Every BSA member worldwide is expected to subscribe to the fundamentals of the Charter:
- BSA schools are committed to the highest duty of care and safeguarding
- Everyone working in a BSA school will raise concerns immediately
- Member schools will follow all statutory safeguarding guidance and laws and report concerns to the relevant authority and the BSA
- BSA schools will support any present pupils affected by abuse and those who report concerns, and offer support to past pupils
- BSA will support member schools that responsibly follow the Charter.
BSA COMMITMENT TO CARE CHARTER – SEPTEMBER 2023
Please click on the link below to see further guidance about reporting issues to BSA:
CHARTER – GUIDANCE FOR REPORTING
Supporting victims
BSA has issued a statement in response to both new and historic abuse in boarding schools, and a guidance page is available for staff receiving disclosures:
PROVIDING ADVICE AND SUPPORT TO SURVIVORS OF ABUSE
SUPPORTING VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF ABUSE – ENGLAND
SUPPORTING VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF ABUSE – SCOTLAND
Safeguarding resources
SACPA WEBSITE (SAFEGUARDING AND CHILD PROTECTION ASSOCIATION)
OFSTED REVIEW OF SEXUAL ABUSE IN SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES
EDUCATION FOR A CONNECTED WORLD
Government and other guidance – England
Working together to safeguard children 2023: statutory guidance
Keeping children safe in education 2024
INFORMATION SHARING: ADVICE FOR PRACTITIONERS
Guidance for Safer Working Practice 2022
The Parents’ Guide to Teaching your Teen Online Safety
Mobile phones in schools – February 2024
Government Guidance – Scotland
Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) – Link to the website
Government Guidance – Wales
ALL WALES CHILD PROTECTION PROCEDURES – UPDATED 2020
Keeping Learners Safe Guidance for Wales (updated April 2022)
Peer-on-peer Guidance for Wales
Government Guidance – Northern Ireland
Government Guidance – Ireland
Safeguarding inquiries
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) concluded its public hearings in October 2022, and the final report into the residential school strand of the inquiry is expected soon.
THE TRUTH PROJECT PRODUCED A REPORT IN NOVEMBER 2017 INTO THE IMPACT OF HISTORIC ABUSE
The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry is ongoing:
Link to the Scottish Inquiry website
An extensive report was published in Australia in 2017
Australian Royal Commission website
TABS, our sister association in the USA, have made us aware of a report into child sexual abuse from the USA:
