Respectful Community
At the heart of the UWC ethos is respect for self and others in all our actions and words in all circumstances, including online. This means that we must think about the common good and be able to rise above our individual desires and needs in order to create fully integrated communities. In short, our ideals require good-heartedness from all members of the UWC community and a recognition that cultural norms are diverse.
The UWC Common Code of Conduct is a series of expectations which all students accept in order to join the UWC movement and, by association, the UWC Atlantic community. It is based on the UWC values, which are at the heart of the movement’s mission to make education a force to unite people, nations, and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. It is UWC Atlantic’s desire that every community member works towards embodying these values. We expect the Code to be observed by all students when at the College and on College activities in the community.
We also have a Behaviour Policy to make expectations clear. Students who accept a position at a UWC school or college commit to the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle, one that avoids potential harm to self and to others. The expectation is that the Behaviour Policy will be followed both in action and in spirit.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is a key priority at UWC Atlantic. We acknowledge fully our duty of care and safeguarding responsibilities, as individuals and as a College team, and we are fully committed to delivering best practice in safeguarding. The effective and consistent care and welfare of each student, enabling them to live and learn in a safe and secure residential educational environment, is of paramount importance. Click here to view our Safeguarding & Respectful Community Policy.
We deliver excellence by seeking to promote a whole College culture of engagement with, and respect for, the highest principles and standards of safeguarding practice. To achieve these standards and ensure we continue to uphold them, we are committed to the continuous development, monitoring and improvement of our safeguarding policies and procedures and to the training and development of our staff in order to ensure that:
- Every individual within the College understands fully the importance of our safeguarding policies and procedures and has the knowledge to implement them effectively
- Every student feels as safe as possible both physically and emotionally and every student is free from any abuse
- Every student understands how to keep themselves safe, and knows how to look after their own health and wellbeing
- The College has the appropriate procedures and protocols in place to act quickly if concerns arise and to provide comprehensive support as and when it is needed.
- UWC Atlantic operates safe recruitment procedures and all members of our staff have been rigorously checked (in compliance with DBS standards) for their suitability to work with young people.
Working in a positive and effective partnership with the appropriate external agencies, our safeguarding policies and procedures are regularly reviewed. They have been developed to align fully with the requirements of the Independent School Standards Regulations and National Minimum Standards for Boarding; the latest Welsh Government guidance Keeping Learners Safe, the UWC Common Standards for Safeguarding; the requirements of our Local Children’s Safeguarding Board; and overall best practice.
We take our safeguarding responsibilities extremely seriously and we make sure that we adhere, both in action and in spirit, to the UWC Common Standards for Safeguarding - a set of values and guidelines that recognise that all UWC students should have a safe, fulfilling and culturally sensitive experience.
We affirm our commitment to the wellbeing and safety of all members of our community in reflection of UWC’s core values of personal responsibility and integrity, autonomy and mutual responsibility, respect and compassion.
Protecting the physical, mental, emotional and social health, wellbeing and safety of all our students is at the heart of everything we do.
We also affirm our full commitment to safeguarding and to promoting the wellbeing of all children and young people in the care of UWC schools, colleges, national committees, projects and educational programmes.
We confirm our belief in the right of all children to be protected from all forms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence, as set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
We welcome any member of the UWC Atlantic community, who wishes to report an experience of sexual misconduct, harm, abuse or neglect, to do so at any time. Individuals who choose to come forward can do so knowing that we are here to listen to whatever experience they choose to share, we will always take them seriously and will follow up to help ensure the safety of our whole community. We commit to treating the information you disclose to us with discretion. In certain circumstances, we are legally obliged to refer information onto the Local Authority.
A safer culture
In addition to developing and implementing our Safeguarding and Respectful Community policy and Behaviour Policy; we have further trained and developed a Designated Safeguarding Team; developed the wellbeing positions and responsibilities of Vice Principal Student Life, Safeguarding (DSP), Wellbeing & Belonging and two Heads of Year; implemented the MyConcern digital system for any issues reporting through a protected channel; established a Safeguarding Task Force; developed our counselling and psychology expertise in The Learning Centre and established a confidential email line for anyone to feel safe in reporting. One of our Governors, Ann Jones, has specific oversight of safeguarding within the College. She has a wealth of expertise within different education settings relating to best practice in safeguarding.
Reporting channels
You can contact the College in the first instance by emailing our Designated Safeguarding Person, Lucretia Fields or Deputy Designated Safeguarding Persons, Tom Partridge, Sam Willis, Yordan Demirov and James Williams on [email protected] or by emailing Principal Naheed Bardai [email protected]
Reporting via UWC International
If you are not directly affiliated with UWC Atlantic, or prefer to speak to another UWC entity about an experience of sexual misconduct, harm, abuse or neglect, the reporting mechanisms provided by UWC International can be used:
You can contact the Safeguarding Officer of UWC International:
Email: [email protected]
Online: UWC Safeguarding Support Online Platform
Telephone: UWC Safeguarding Support Phone Line Numbers
More information about the reporting processes to UWC International can be found on its website. These are currently in English only, but we will be adding further language versions very soon. Please click here: UWC International Safeguarding.