Safeguarding at School: Creating a Safe and Supportive Community

A Culture of Safety and Inclusion 

At The British International School Abu Dhabi (BIS Abu Dhabi), safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. As an international school, we are proud to provide a diverse and inclusive environment where students from various cultural backgrounds feel safe, supported, and empowered throughout their educational journey. Our core values of Honesty, Kindness, and Respect underpin all our safeguarding efforts, ensuring that every member of our school community is treated with care and consideration.

Our Dedicated Safeguarding Team

We have a dedicated structure in place to ensure that all students feel safe, supported, and empowered throughout their educational journey. Our safeguarding team consists of a Head of Safeguarding, John Dibdin, who leads the overall strategy, and Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) in both Primary (Heather Threlfall) and Secondary (Stephanie Watson). Additionally, all Assistant Headteachers hold the role of Deputy DSLs, ensuring that safeguarding remains a priority across the school.

To further support student well-being, we have a strong counsellor team (Caleb Questel and Liz Ann Mathew), a well-equipped school clinic led by Christine McDade, and a team of 16 trained Mental Health First Aiders. Heads of Year and Year Leaders also play a key role in providing guidance and support to students, prioritising their mental health and well-being at all times.

Embedding Well-being in School Life

Our Ethos Leads, Sajid Latif and Emma Atkinson, play a key role in shaping the school’s culture of care and well-being. Their leadership in mental health initiatives, Personal, Social, and Moral Education (PSME), whole-school events, and curriculum development ensures that safeguarding extends beyond policy into everyday practice.

By embedding positive mental health strategies into school life, they help create an environment where students feel heard, respected, and supported in their personal development. Their work also fosters resilience and emotional intelligence, equipping students with the skills to navigate challenges and maintain their well-being.

Tailored Student Well-being Initiatives

At BIS Abu Dhabi, our well-being initiatives cater to each age group:

• Early Years: We use the book The Colour Monster to help young learners identify and express their emotions, facilitating meaningful conversations about feelings.
• Years 1 and 2: Worry Monsters encourage open communication.
• Year 3: Students have access to Worry Boxes, where they can share concerns confidentially.
• Years 4 to 13: Students benefit from the YouHQ platform, which provides digital support and resources. YouHQ also alerts key staff to carry out well-being check-ins, ensuring timely support for students. Currently, over 98% of our students engage with YouHQ across the school, highlighting the success of this initiative in promoting student well-being.
• Secondary students also have the option to self-refer and seek support through bisadiamnotok@bisad.ae, ensuring that they always have a safe space to share their concerns.

Continuous Improvement and Recognition  

Our school is on a continuous journey to strengthen the culture of safeguarding. All staff use CPOMS, an advanced system that tracks student behaviour, concerns, and inclusion needs. This system enables us to build a full picture of each student, allowing us to implement timely and effective interventions.
The recent Nord Anglia safeguarding review commended BISAD for its outstanding safeguarding practices. Particular praise was given for the strong relationships between students and staff, the culture of reporting incidents, and our effective collaboration with external agencies. Additionally, our PSME curriculum was recognised for its comprehensive approach, covering essential topics such as digital literacy, university preparation, healthy eating, mindfulness, and friendship development.

Digital Safety and Anti-Bullying Initiatives

Looking ahead, we are excited to welcome Barry from Beat the Bully in Term 3. This external company will guide our Year 8 and 9 students through digital literacy workshops, with further resources shared across the entire Secondary school. This initiative reinforces our commitment to equipping students with the knowledge and skills to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.

Upcoming Well-being Sessions for Families and Students

As part of our ongoing commitment to safeguarding and emotional well-being, we are excited to offer a series of sessions for students and families throughout the school. Dates will be confirmed soon, these sessions will cover:

• Feeling Lonely – Supporting Emotional Well-being
• Friendships & Social Skills – Helping Your Child Build Positive Friendships
• Self-Care & Managing Stress – Encouraging Self-Care at Home and Coping with Everyday Stress

Partnering with Parents for a Safer Future

At BIS Abu Dhabi, safeguarding is a collective responsibility. While we have strong structures in place within the school, working in partnership with our parents and the wider community is essential in creating a truly safe and supportive environment.

By fostering open communication between school and home, we ensure that every child feels valued, heard, and supported. Together, we can build a culture where students feel happy, safe, and empowered to speak up whenever they need help.