About Us

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, trustees, 3rd party contractors and partners 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 contracting 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 (264.48 KB) details AQA's responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and the actions we expect all staff, associates, 3rd party contractors and partners 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
• joint policies with People Group and Associate Management which sets out our commitment to safe recruitment, induction, training, addressing allegations and support for all AQA staff and associates
• a Safeguarding Code of Behaviour (209.13 KB) to be followed by all AQA staff, associates, 3rd party contractors and partners
• 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 and Deputy who are 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 AQA procedure
• providing safeguarding advice and assurance across AQA.

AQA also has a safeguarding sponsor, our Director of Regulation and Compliance who is responsible for chairing the safeguarding core group and promoting safeguarding with the Chief Executive and Board of Trustees and a named Trustee with responsibility for Safeguarding.

Has your centre been contacted by the AQA safeguarding team?

During exam series, and especially in the summer, the AQA safeguarding team are alerted to issues which may need passing on to your centre Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). We will contact your school reception in the first instance to ask to speak to your DSL and may ask for an email address if the DSL is not available. The telephone or email contact may come from our Safeguarding Lead or Deputy, or it may come from one of the seasonal staff members we employ to help us process these concerns. If you are unsure whether the contact is genuine, and wish to check, please email safeguarding@aqa.org.uk.

Contact us

If you have a safeguarding concern, please complete our safeguarding issue report form (103.92 KB) 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 or Hayley Thomson, our Deputy Safeguarding Lead.

Email: safeguarding@aqa.org.uk