BRIGHTON BALLET SCHOOL

WHISTLEBLOWING POLICY

1. Policy Statement

Brighton Ballet School is committed to maintaining the highest standards of safeguarding, child protection, professional conduct, and ethical behaviour.

We encourage all staff, volunteers, contractors and associated personnel to raise concerns about wrongdoing, unsafe practice, misconduct, or safeguarding failures at the earliest opportunity.

Brighton Ballet School recognises that individuals are often the first to become aware of concerns and should feel able to report these concerns without fear of victimisation, harassment, discrimination, or disadvantage.

This policy should be read alongside the School’s:

  • Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
  • Staff Code of Conduct
  • Complaints Policy
  • Health and Safety Policy

2. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to:

  • Encourage the reporting of genuine concerns.
  • Protect children and young people from harm.
  • Promote a culture of openness and accountability.
  • Ensure concerns are investigated appropriately.
  • Protect those who raise concerns in good faith.

3. Scope

This policy applies to:

  • Employees
  • Volunteers
  • Contractors
  • Freelance teachers
  • Student teachers and assistants
  • Trustees, advisors or consultants working on behalf of Brighton Ballet School

4. What Should Be Reported?

Concerns that should be reported include, but are not limited to:

Safeguarding Concerns

  • Abuse or neglect of a child.
  • Failure to follow safeguarding procedures.
  • Inappropriate behaviour towards a child.
  • Breaches of professional boundaries.
  • Failure to report safeguarding concerns.

Staff Conduct Concerns

  • Bullying or harassment.
  • Abuse of authority.
  • Unprofessional conduct.
  • Breaches of the Staff Code of Conduct.

Health and Safety Concerns

  • Unsafe working practices.
  • Failure to comply with health and safety procedures.
  • Dangerous equipment or facilities.

Financial or Ethical Concerns

  • Fraud or theft.
  • Misuse of school funds.
  • Deliberate concealment of wrongdoing.
  • Conflicts of interest.

5. Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

The Designated Safeguarding Lead is:

Sonya Pettigrew
Principal and Proprietor
Brighton Ballet School

Any safeguarding-related whistleblowing concern should normally be reported to the DSL immediately.

6. How to Raise a Concern

Concerns should be raised as soon as possible.

A concern may be raised:

  • Verbally
  • In writing
  • By email

Staff should provide:

  • Details of the concern.
  • Dates, times and locations where relevant.
  • Names of those involved where known.
  • Any supporting evidence available.

Individuals are not expected to investigate concerns themselves.

7. Concerns Involving the DSL

If the concern involves the Designated Safeguarding Lead (Sonya Pettigrew), or if the individual does not feel comfortable reporting directly to the DSL, concerns may be reported to:

Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)

or

NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line

Telephone: 0800 028 0285

Email: help@nspcc.org.uk

The NSPCC provides confidential advice for professionals who have concerns about how child protection issues are being handled.

8. Protection for Whistleblowers

Brighton Ballet School will not tolerate victimisation or retaliation against any individual who raises a genuine concern in good faith.

No employee, volunteer or contractor will be disadvantaged for:

  • Reporting a concern.
  • Assisting an investigation.
  • Providing information relating to a concern.

This protection applies even if the concern is ultimately found to be unfounded, provided it was raised honestly and in good faith.

9. Malicious or False Allegations

Concerns must be raised honestly and responsibly.

Deliberately false, malicious or vexatious allegations may result in disciplinary action.

10. Confidentiality

All concerns will be handled sensitively and confidentially wherever possible.

However, complete confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where:

  • A child may be at risk of harm.
  • A criminal offence may have occurred.
  • Disclosure is required by law.

Information will only be shared with those who need to know in order to investigate and manage the concern.

11. Investigation Process

Following a report:

  1. The concern will be acknowledged.
  2. A preliminary assessment will be undertaken.
  3. Appropriate action will be taken.
  4. External agencies may be contacted where necessary.
  5. The outcome will be recorded.

Where possible, the individual raising the concern will be informed that appropriate action has been taken.

12. Record Keeping

Records of whistleblowing concerns will:

  • Be kept securely.
  • Be treated confidentially.
  • Be retained in accordance with legal and safeguarding requirements.

13. Review

This policy will be reviewed annually or sooner if legislation or safeguarding guidance changes.

Declaration

I have read and understood the Brighton Ballet School Whistleblowing Policy.

Name: ___________________________________

Position: _________________________________

Signature: ________________________________

Date: ____________________________________

Approved By: Sonya Pettigrew

Role: Principal and Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

Review Date: 19th June 2026

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