Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Safeguarding, Wellbeing and the Law Syllabus

In online safety teaching, what are the '4 Cs' of online risk?

Content (harmful material), Contact (harmful interactions with others), Conduct (a child's own/others' behaviour), and Commerce (financial harms such as scams, gambling, in-app purchases).

Roughly what proportion of mental health problems are established by mid-adolescence, underlining the school's role in early identification?

Around half of all lifetime mental health conditions are established by age 14 (about 75% by age 24), making schools key sites for early recognition and support.

Name three warning signs that may indicate a pupil has an emerging mental health need.

Examples: persistent low mood or withdrawal; sudden drop in attainment or attendance; changes in eating or sleeping; self-harm or talk of hopelessness; irritability or risk-taking; loss of interest in activities.

What is the difference between a 'mental health problem' and 'normal' emotional difficulty in pupils?

Emotional ups and downs are a normal part of development; a mental health problem is indicated when difficulties are severe, persistent, and significantly impair the child's daily functioning, relationships, or learning.

What is a 'whole-school approach' to mental health and wellbeing?

A coordinated strategy embedding wellbeing across the whole school: leadership commitment, curriculum, ethos and environment, staff development, pupil voice, working with parents, targeted support, and identifying need — rather than isolated interventions.

What role does a Senior Mental Health Lead play in a school?

A senior staff member who oversees and coordinates the school's whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing; the DfE offers grant-funded training for this role.

Define 'resilience' in the context of pupil wellbeing.

The capacity to cope with, adapt to, and recover from adversity, stress, or difficulty — maintaining or regaining wellbeing despite challenges.

Name two ways teachers can actively promote pupil resilience.

Examples: fostering a growth mindset and positive view of mistakes; building strong relationships and a sense of belonging; teaching coping/self-regulation strategies; setting achievable challenges; modelling problem-solving and help-seeking.

What is 'pastoral care' / pastoral support in a school?

The system of personal, social, emotional and welfare support for pupils — typically delivered through form tutors, heads of year, pastoral leads and mentoring — that promotes wellbeing alongside academic progress.

What does 'duty of care' mean for a teacher?

A legal obligation to take reasonable care to ensure the safety and welfare of pupils, avoiding acts or omissions that could foreseeably cause them harm.

Explain the doctrine of 'in loco parentis' as applied to teachers.

Literally 'in the place of a parent': teachers must exercise the same standard of care towards pupils that a reasonable, prudent parent would, given the circumstances and the activity.

What legal standard is used to judge whether a teacher has breached their duty of care?

The standard of a reasonable, prudent parent/professional in the same situation — i.e. whether the teacher took reasonable care to avoid foreseeable harm. Breach causing harm can give rise to a negligence claim.

Which Act places general duties on employers (including schools) to ensure health and safety, and what is the key duty?

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Employers must, so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees and others (including pupils) affected by their activities.

What is a 'risk assessment' and what are its five recognised steps (HSE)?

A systematic examination of hazards. Steps: (1) identify the hazards; (2) decide who might be harmed and how; (3) evaluate the risks and decide on precautions; (4) record findings and implement them; (5) review and update the assessment.

Distinguish between a 'hazard' and a 'risk'.

A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm; a risk is the likelihood that harm will actually occur, combined with the severity of that harm.

Risk is often expressed as a relationship between two factors. State that relationship.

$\text{Risk} = \text{Likelihood} \times \text{Severity}$ — the probability of harm occurring multiplied by how serious that harm would be.

Which data protection laws govern how schools handle personal data?

The UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

What are the lawful bases a school typically relies on to process pupils' personal data (give two)?

Most commonly 'public task' (performing a task in the public interest / official authority) and 'legal obligation'; 'consent', 'vital interests', and 'legitimate interests' may apply in specific cases. Special category data (e.g. health) needs an additional Article 9 condition.

Does data protection law prevent staff from sharing information to safeguard a child?

No. The DfE and ICO are clear that GDPR is not a barrier to sharing information for safeguarding; fears about data protection must never hinder the timely sharing of information to protect a child at risk of harm.

What are the six data protection principles under UK GDPR (name any four)?

Data must be: (1) processed lawfully, fairly and transparently; (2) collected for specified, legitimate purposes; (3) adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary; (4) accurate and kept up to date; (5) kept no longer than necessary; (6) processed securely. (Plus accountability.)

What is a 'Subject Access Request' (SAR) and the standard time limit to respond?

A request by an individual to see the personal data an organisation holds about them. The school must respond, usually free of charge, within one calendar month.

Under what law and conditions may a teacher use 'reasonable force' on a pupil?

Section 93 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 permits members of staff to use reasonable force to prevent a pupil committing an offence, causing personal injury or damage to property, or prejudicing good order and discipline. Force must be reasonable and proportionate.

Can a teacher use force to search a pupil, and for what items?

Yes. Staff can search without consent (and use reasonable force) for 'prohibited items' such as weapons, alcohol, illegal drugs, stolen items, tobacco/vapes, fireworks, pornography, and anything that could be used to harm or commit an offence.

What does 'reasonable and proportionate' mean when applying physical force in school?

The degree of force used must be no more than is needed to achieve the lawful aim, judged against the seriousness of the situation; excessive force is unlawful and could constitute assault.

What key statutory document governs behaviour and discipline powers in schools?

'Behaviour in Schools' (DfE statutory guidance), supported by the Education and Inspections Act 2006 and 'Use of Reasonable Force' guidance, setting out powers to discipline, search, confiscate, detain and exclude.

List three practical strategies a teacher can use to manage workload and protect work-life balance.

Examples: prioritise tasks (e.g. focus on impact, not 'busy work'); use efficient/whole-class feedback rather than excessive marking; share planning and resources; set boundaries on email/working hours; collaborate and delegate; use the DfE workload reduction toolkit.

What is the DfE's 'Workload Reduction Toolkit' designed to do?

It is a set of practical resources to help schools identify and reduce unnecessary workload, particularly around marking, planning and data management, freeing teachers to focus on teaching.

Define 'burnout' as recognised by the WHO.

A syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed, characterised by three dimensions: emotional exhaustion, increased mental distance/cynicism toward one's job, and reduced professional efficacy.

Name three early warning signs of teacher burnout.

Examples: persistent exhaustion not relieved by rest; cynicism or detachment from pupils and colleagues; reduced sense of accomplishment; irritability; difficulty concentrating; disrupted sleep; dreading dread of work or frequent illness.

Distinguish 'stress' from 'burnout'.

Stress is typically marked by over-engagement and urgency (too much pressure), and can be short-term; burnout is the result of prolonged unmanaged stress, marked by disengagement, emotional blunting, exhaustion and a sense of hopelessness or helplessness.

Name the main teaching unions in England that provide professional support and the principal regulator of the profession.

Unions include the NEU (National Education Union), NASUWT, and NAHT (school leaders). The professional regulator is the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), which handles serious misconduct cases.

What sources of professional support can a struggling or accused teacher turn to?

Their trade union (advice and legal representation), a mentor/induction tutor, the school's wellbeing/occupational health services, the Education Support charity helpline, and—for safeguarding/conduct concerns—the DSL or local authority designated officer (LADO).