Where Do I Turn?

Message for Pupils

Wells Cathedral School is the community to which we all belong. It is a caring community in which we try to live together happily and where we always respond to anyone who is unhappy or worried about anything. This explains what to do if you feel concerned about something at School.

Things that you may not be able to manage alone:

• You are fed up or unhappy

• You feel you are being treated unfairly

• You are being bullied

• Someone has made sexual suggestions that you feel are not right

• There are problems at home that are affecting you at School.

REMEMBER

There are all kinds of people in the School community to whom you can turn for help or advice. You should never feel alone or friendless.

WHO TO CONTACT:

• Your Tutor

• Your Houseparent

• Your Head of Year

• Any member of staff you feel you can trust

• The Chaplain

• The Head Master or Deputy Heads

• St. Andrew’s Lodge Medical Centre: 01749 834265

• School Counsellor: 07572 589228/01749 834267

• Your parents/guardian

• Independent Listener (Ben Taylor): 07508 088131

• Childline: 0800 1111 (free call)

• Ofsted: 0870 218 3800

• NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800500 (free call)

• Samaritans: 116 123

• Rape Crisis Line (Somerset & Avon): 0808 801 0456 (female) or 0808 801 0464 (male)

• Somerset Eating Disorder Helpline: 01749 343344

• Children’s Commissioner: 0800 528 0731 / www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk

1. Something is making you unhappy or worried. What can you do?

• Is there a friend who can help?

• Is there an older pupil you can talk to?

2. What about someone in your House?

• Can you talk to your Houseparent, Assistant Houseparent, Matron or other member of the House staff? They are there to help you.

3. Is there any other member of staff you can trust?

• What about your Tutor, the Chaplain or those at St. Andrew’s Lodge Medical Centre?

4. There may be circumstances when you would find it easier to talk to someone outside School.

• Your parents?

• The School counsellor (this is an entirely confidential service)?

5. Suppose you are still worried. You may feel the matter is so important you wish to take it further. What do you do?

• Speak to any member of staff or adult whom you can trust. You do not need to be on your own when you do this; you can have a friend, an older pupil or another member of staff with you.

6. If the matter cannot be dealt with to your satisfaction, then you can make a formal statement.

a. Write to your Houseparent or any adult listed stating that you wish to take this further.

b. She or he will register it into the Record Book held in the Head Master’s Office.

c. You will receive a note saying that the matter is being dealt with within two days of it being referred to the Head Master.

d. You will then be asked to talk through the problem. You may have a friend or adult with you then too.

e. You will be advised on what course of action to take.

f. After this advice, you will then need to make a decision.