Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding is at the foundation of AQA's work; therefore, we're committed to the welfare of everyone we work with and our customers.
Safeguarding means protecting people's health and wellbeing and making sure they can live free from harm, abuse and neglect.
Everyone who works for or on behalf of AQA, such as staff, associates or trustees, has a responsibility to support the care and protection of children and adults at risk from abuse and exploitation.
AQA recognises that by employing staff and associates it's placing them in a position of trust, especially so where the post involves contact with children or adults at risk, however infrequent. AQA is committed to reducing the risk of employing any person intent on abusing this position of trust and identifying and responding to any incident of alleged abuse from its employees or associates fairly and swiftly.
AQA follows the JCQ principles of safeguarding for children and adults at risk.
Our children and adults at risk safeguarding policy details AQA's responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and the actions we expect all staff and associates to take if they have any concerns about the safety or welfare of any child or adult at risk.
Overview
AQA applies the highest standards in safeguarding children and adults at risk. This is demonstrated and implemented through a range of policies and operational guidelines which are specific to particular contexts. These include:
- an overarching safeguarding strategy for AQA owned and driven by a multi-departmental safeguarding core group
- a clear and regularly reviewed safeguarding policy for children and adults at risk
- a safer workforce policy which sets out our commitment to safe recruitment, induction, training, allegations management and support for all AQA staff and associates
- a code of conduct to be followed by all AQA staff and associates
- a programme of safeguarding training, tailored to the needs of AQA staff and associates
- specific guidance given in appropriate handbooks for examiners, moderators, staff involved in assessment design, customer services, marking and research staff for their particular role.
AQA employs a Safeguarding Lead who is responsible for:
- providing appropriate safeguarding training
- reviewing policies and procedures relevant to this area
- ensuring that all safeguarding concerns are appropriately and swiftly acted upon protection and that these are properly recorded
- ensuring that any concerns raised with regard to AQA staff or associates of a safeguarding nature are dealt with in accordance with the AQA allegations management procedure
- providing safeguarding advice and assurance across AQA.
AQA also has a safeguarding sponsor, our Director of People, who is responsible for chairing the safeguarding core group and promoting safeguarding with the Chief Executive and Board of Trustees.
Contact us
If you have a safeguarding concern, please complete our safeguarding issue report form and email it to safeguarding@aqa.org.uk
If you have any general questions about safeguarding at AQA, please contact Becki Hinchliffe, our Safeguarding Lead.
Email: rhinchliffe@aqa.org.uk
Tel: 07467 442328