Keeping Secrets
If a child tells you something concerning about another pupil but asks you to ‘promise not to tell,’ how should you handle it?
Answer: Even if the child is sharing a concern about someone else, you should never promise to keep it a secret. The fact that the concern is about another child does slightly shift the emphasis, but not the core principles.
You might say: “Thank you for telling me. I can’t promise to keep it a secret because I might need to share it with someone who can help. But I’ll only tell the people who need to know.”
Key points:
- Reassure the child that they’ve done the right thing by speaking up
- Avoid pressing for more information or asking leading questions
- Be clear that your role is to help keep everyone safe—not to keep secrets
- Record what was said accurately and report it to your Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). Saracens High School’s Desginated Safeguarding Team can be found here.
- Whether the concern is about themselves or another pupil, your role is always to listen, reassure, and report
