Child
Safeguarding

Safeguarding Statement

British International School (BIS) is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. As a school aligned with Indian and British international standards, BIS adheres to the safeguarding principles and safer recruitment expectations set out by the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) UK. We recognize our responsibility to create a safe and nurturing environment for all students, and we are dedicated to implementing robust safeguarding policies and procedures in line with COBIS guidelines. These guidelines provide a robust framework to ensure effective child protection practices, ethical recruitment, and a culture of vigilance within international schools.

We expect all members of our school community — including staff, volunteers, service providers, contractors, activity partners, visitors, parents, and guests — to act with integrity and to share responsibility for maintaining a safe, respectful, and secure environment for every student.

Schools play a unique and vital role in protecting children. BIS recognises its duty of care to ensure that all students are provided with a safe and supportive environment in which they can grow, learn, and thrive. Educators and staff, through their daily interactions with students, are in a privileged position to observe, identify, and respond to concerns relating to child welfare. Accordingly, all staff have a professional and ethical obligation to report concerns and to take appropriate action where there is reason to believe a child may be at risk of harm, abuse, or neglect.

The health, safety, and wellbeing of our students are of paramount importance. Every child at BIS has the right to protection, irrespective of race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, age, disability, neurodiversity, gender, gender identity, religion, caste, political belief, socio-economic background, marital status, or sexual orientation. Any act — whether occurring on or off campus — that results in neglect, physical harm, emotional harm, or sexual abuse must be reported immediately through the School’s safeguarding procedures.

In alignment with our vision to nurture confident, responsible, and globally minded learners, BIS has established comprehensive safeguarding and child protection policies that guide prevention, education, and response. These policies are reviewed regularly to ensure compliance with COBIS safeguarding standards and international best practice.

Safer Recruitment Commitment

In accordance with COBIS safeguarding and Safer Recruitment (SCR) requirements, BIS upholds rigorous recruitment and compliance procedures. All applicants must be willing to undergo:

• Thorough background verification checks
• Police clearance / criminal record checks (renewed periodically)
• Verification of identity documents and academic qualifications
• Professional reference checks from previous employers
• Safeguarding and child protection training prior to or immediately upon appointment

The School maintains a comprehensive Single Central Record (SCR) documenting all required compliance checks for both existing and new staff members.

External providers and partners who may have direct or unsupervised contact with students (such as coaches, activity leaders, or programme facilitators) are also required to submit appropriate safeguarding documentation prior to engagement.

Adult Visitor Guidelines and Code of Conduct

BIS promotes a culture of mutual respect and expects all visitors to adhere to the following guidelines:

• Display a visitor pass at all times while on campus.
• Ensure all communication is respectful, inclusive, and appropriate.
• Obtain prior school permission before taking photographs or videos; no student images may be shared on social media or online platforms.
• Use only designated adult facilities.
• Refrain from sharing personal contact details or social media information with students without prior authorisation.
• Never be alone with a student in an unsupervised setting.
• Avoid physical contact or intrusion into a student’s personal space.
• Immediately report any inappropriate behaviour, physical contact, or safeguarding concern to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Reporting a Concern (Child Protection Officer/DSL)

If you have any concern regarding the safety or wellbeing of a student at BIS, you must report it without delay to the Director, Principal, School Counsellor, or the Child Protection Officer / Designated Safeguarding Lead. All concerns will be handled promptly, sensitively, and in accordance with the School’s safeguarding procedures.

British International School remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and that all children are protected at all times.