Student Wellbeing

At Dudley Sixth we take the health and welfare of our students, apprentices and staff very seriously. The college is committed to supporting individuals with their mental health wellbeing, offering confidential and non-judgemental emotional support. 

The college has fully-qualified counsellors which you can book an appointment with and it also works with external agencies to provide more specialist support.  

24/7 Support 

When the college is closed there are still lots of organisations who can support you if you are in crisis: 

  • 999 – You can always telephone 999 in an emergency. 
  • Hospital – You can make your way to any hospital which has an Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department. It might help to ask someone to accompany you. Find your nearest Accident & Emergency Service
  • Samaritans – You can telephone Samaritans 24 hours a day on 116 123  from your mobile or landline or send an email [email protected].  You can find out if you have a local Samaritans branch here. 
  • Your GP/medical practice – Contact the medical practice at which you are registered and ask for an urgent appointment. 
  • Local crisis support service – You can find your local crisis support services by visiting the NHS website
  • Other organisations, like Mind offer support and helpful resources. 

Try to talk to someone you trust and remember there’s no right or wrong way to talk about your feelings – starting the conversation is what’s important. 

Useful contacts: 

Safeguarding 

Safeguarding is the process of creating an environment for all students and staff that actively prevents harm, harassment, bullying, abuse and neglect. The College expects all staff, volunteers and visitors to respect and engage with this commitment. 

The College is committed to: 

  • Providing a safe learning environment for all students with equal protection from all types of harm and abuse. 
  • Identifying children, young people and vulnerable adults who are suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm, and taking appropriate action to see that such individuals are kept safe, both at home and at the College. 
  • Working in partnership with students, staff and other institutions to promote a safe learning environment. 

Key contacts: 

Our safeguarding team can be contacted Monday to Friday (term time only) on 01384 000000. 

If you have any safeguarding or prevent concerns at the college, key contacts are: 

Designated Safeguarding / Prevent Officer, Diana Martin, Vice Principal, 01384 363 940 

Deputy Safeguarding Officer, Davina Foy, 01384 363 037 

Prevent 

The Prevent Duty is about safeguarding our students to keep them both safe and within the law. Education settings have a duty to have regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. The Prevent Duty is not about preventing students from having political and religious views but about supporting them to act in non-extremist ways.  

You can watch a short government information film on this subject here - watch the video here 

If you have concerns with regard to any of our students please contact our Safeguarding Team. 

If you’ve seen or heard something that could suggest a terrorist threat to the UK and the college is closed, report it to the Met Police online [www.met.police.uk] using their quick and confidential online tool under Tell Us About. They monitor this service 24 hours a day. The Met hosts this reporting service on behalf of all UK police forces. 

Below is the official Counter Terrorism Policing Teams advice about what to do in the unlikely event of being caught up in a situation where you are fearful for your safety. It only takes 5 minutes to watch but may just save your life. We encourage all of our staff and students to watch. Click here to view it. 

You can also find out what to do in a weapons or firearms situation while on campus according to the Counter Terrorism Policing Team. 

British Values 

Dudley College of Technology, its partners and subcontractors, recognise the important role it can play in helping to prevent people being drawn into terrorism and in providing appropriate advice and support. 

The college has a vital role in ensuring that groups or individuals within the college and those whose learning is facilitated by its partners and subcontractors are not subjected to intimidation or radicalisation by those wishing to unduly, or illegally, influence them. 

It follows equal opportunity guidance which guarantees that there will be no discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status or any protected characteristic. 

The college, its partners and subcontractors, uphold the acceptance of fundamental British values which it is its responsibility to promote. In doing so its learners will be able to grow as individuals and citizens in the community in which they live. 

The British values are: 

Democracy 

  • Your opinion counts 

The rule of law 

  • No one is above the law 
  • Laws protect everyone 
  • Innocent until proved guilty 

Individual liberty 

  • Freedom of speech 

Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs 

  • All backgrounds and cultures 
  • All ages 
  • All genders and sexualities 
  • All religions and beliefs  

The college, its partners and subcontractors, seek to create an environment that enables students to become rounded members of society who treat others with respect and tolerance.