The Chronicle, Summer Term 2017

11 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Alexandra Holloway Governor

I sit on the Governing Body as the School’s designated Safeguarding Governor. I report to the Safeguarding and Compliance Committee and the wider Governing Body on all matters affecting the wellbeing of pupils at St Edward’s. My five children attended Teddies so I have a good grounding in the School’s policies and practices both as a parent and as a Governor. Being a GP, I have a great deal of experience in health matters and good insight into people’s needs at times of stress or ill- health. The GP role also requires extensive understanding of safeguarding, in which I receive regular training. I see the Deputy Head Pastoral

there are any areas where improvements could be made. It is important that I spend time in Houses talking to staff and pupils, of course, but I also look at the wider setting, overseeing the pupils’ environment from all angles. I talk to the Catering Department about nutrition planning, for instance, or the Grounds Team about keeping the site as safe as possible. The Chairman, Mike Stanfield, and I make a point of having supper in the Dining Hall every now and then alongside the pupils so we know exactly what they are eating. The Catering Team are very aware of who’s not eating enough, or not eating the right food, and they are able to pass on the information to the relevant staff. Confidentiality is key to my role but I’m well-versed in this given my profession. What I most enjoy about being the Safeguarding Governor is perhaps what I most enjoy about being a GP – understanding the wider context but being able to drill down into specific issues in a very human way.

regularly to keep up-to-date with any specific safeguarding concerns and

to attend a Pastoral Care Group meeting. I also make visits to the School to see staff and pupils on my own so that I can judge if the School’s policies are being correctly followed ‘on the ground’ – or if

the Common Room over coffee or share a lunch with them and discuss issues then. Regular meetings in House are always useful too. It is easy to connect with colleagues here because they all highly committed and involved in all aspects of the school life. Being in contact with the teenagers and young adults at Teddies is extremely enriching. They bring energy, freshness, innocence and hope; they can highlight the contradictions of the adult world with surprising maturity. Coming from different countries, they bring different perspectives. Their personal stories are fascinating. At the same time, they can be fragile, vulnerable or confused in this rapidly-changing world where technology is a blessing and a curse, where time is scarce for reflection and nurturing relations. Being there to answer their questions, suggest alternatives, point them in the right direction, and generally support them is the most rewarding aspect of my job.