Executive Summary
Modern slavery is a serious crime and a violation of fundamental human rights. It can take many forms, including forced labour, human trafficking, servitude, and exploitation.
As an education organisation, we are committed to promoting the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of all children, young people, staff, volunteers, and members of our wider community. We recognise our responsibility to identify and mitigate the risks of modern slavery within our organisation and throughout our supply chains.
We operate a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and human trafficking. We are committed to acting ethically, maintaining effective systems and controls, and working only with suppliers and partners who share our commitment to preventing exploitation and protecting human rights. This approach reflects the principles set out in the National Church Institutions’ statement on tackling modern slavery and ensuring ethical practices throughout organisational activities and supply chains.
Our Organisation
We provide educational services that support children and young people to achieve their full potential in a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment.
Our activities include:
- Supporting high-quality education and pastoral support.
- Promoting and supporting the Christian Distinctiveness of CofE Schools.
- Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
- Working with contractors, suppliers, and partner organisations to support educational outcomes.
We recognise that, while the education sector is generally considered lower risk than some industries, modern slavery can occur within contracted services and supply chains, including facilities management, cleaning, catering, construction, uniforms, ICT equipment, and agency staffing.
Our Policies and Procedures
We are committed to maintaining policies and procedures that support ethical conduct and reduce the risk of modern slavery.
These include:
- Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.
- Safer Recruitment Procedures.
- Whistleblowing Policy.
- Staff Code of Conduct.
- Procurement and Financial Regulations.
- Supplier Code of Conduct (where applicable).
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy.
All staff, DBE committee members, volunteers, and temporary workers are expected to uphold these standards and report any concerns regarding exploitation or human trafficking. This approach reflects the emphasis on ethical practices, whistleblowing arrangements, procurement controls, and supplier expectations identified within the original statement.
Due Diligence and Supply Chain Management
We seek to ensure that modern slavery is not present within our organisation or supply chains by:
- Conducting appropriate checks on suppliers and contractors.
- Including safeguarding and ethical standards within procurement processes.
- Assessing higher-risk suppliers where appropriate.
- Requiring suppliers to comply with relevant legislation and employment standards.
- Investigating concerns promptly and taking appropriate action where risks are identified.
We reserve the right to cease working with suppliers who fail to demonstrate a commitment to preventing modern slavery and exploitation.
Training and Awareness
We provide safeguarding training and guidance to staff to help them recognise signs of abuse, exploitation, and vulnerability.
Relevant staff involved in procurement, recruitment, safeguarding, and contract management receive additional guidance to help identify and respond to potential risks associated with modern slavery and human trafficking.
Our Commitment
We are committed to:
- Maintaining a culture of safeguarding and vigilance.
- Reviewing our policies and procedures regularly.
- Promoting ethical employment practices.
- Working with trusted partners and suppliers.
- Raising awareness of modern slavery and exploitation within our educational community.
Through these actions, we aim to protect children, young people, staff, and all members of our community from the risks associated with modern slavery and human trafficking.