When Schools Fail to Safeguard: Why Child Protection Needs Urgent Reform
Recent reports have warned that many UK schools, including schools in Wales, are being criticised for failing to meet essential child-safeguarding standards, leaving children vulnerable and undermining public confidence in education as a safe space. Experts say this gap in oversight demands urgent attention, better accountability and renewed commitment to student safety.
Why It Matters
Schools are not only places of learning, they are central to a child’s sense of safety, stability, and development. When safeguarding fails:
Trust in institutions erodes - families may feel they lack protection for their children
Vulnerable children may go unnoticed or unsupported, especially where abuse, neglect, bullying or exploitation are concerned
Long-term harms to mental health, school engagement and societal safety increase
A child should never have to wonder whether the adults responsible are truly prioritising their protection.
What This Means for Education & Community Safeguarding
Urgent policy and oversight reform: Education authorities and government must restore rigorous, transparent safeguarding audits and reinstate robust oversight mechanisms across all schools.
Whole-school culture of safety: Safeguarding must be embedded in everyday practice, through staff training, clear reporting pathways, and regular review. Schools should not treat safeguarding as a “tick-box” exercise, but as a continuous commitment to children’s wellbeing.
Community and parent engagement: Parents, local organisations, and community groups should have channels to raise concerns and participate in safeguarding dialogue. Transparency builds trust and no child’s safety should be hidden behind closed doors.
Digital and educational tools: Schools and community organisations should leverage digital platforms to support safeguarding education, anonymous reporting, and early intervention, ensuring children feel seen, heard and protected.
imabi’s View
At imabi, we believe safeguarding must evolve with the risks children face - both offline and online. Our approach emphasises:
Prevention and education - teaching children, staff and communities to recognise risks, spot warning signs, and understand their rights to safety and protection.
Accessibility and voice - providing safe, anonymous reporting channels through tools like imabi Inspire so that no child or adult feels silenced.
Transparency and partnership - working alongside schools, parents and local partners to create environments where safety is visible and trust is built on action, not assumptions.
Safe schools are the bedrock of safe communities. When safeguarding fails, we stand for reform, accountability and a renewed commitment to protecting every child, every day.