Abingdon Boarders' Handbook

How will I be kept safe? Relationships with other pupils You will find that the other pupils at Abingdon School are very friendly and welcoming. They will treat you with kindness, tolerance and  friendship. You should make sure that you treat them in the same way. The school has an effective anti-bullying policy in order to  prevent bullying and to deal with it if it does happen. For details of the policy you can look on the school website.  Resident staff There are members of staff who live in the boarding accommodation. They have private flats but are there to help and look after you. If  you have a problem day or night you should contact a resident member of staff. All the staff have undergone a police (DBS) check and  receive training in looking after boarders.  Security Code locked doors protect the boarding houses. Inside the houses there are code locked doors to prevent dayboys accessing certain  areas. At night, gates allowing access to the boarding houses are shut. Any guests to the house – including other pupils should be  signed in with the member of staff on duty, your Housemaster, or the house matron.  Fire protection The school has a rigorous fire  safety policy. All rooms have  fire alarms that are tested on  a weekly basis. There are fire  alarm buttons at multiple  points in each house and fire  extinguishers are readily  available. We carry out  regular fire drills. Your  Housemaster will explain  what to do in the case of a  fire when you arrive. You will  also be shown where the fire  escapes are for your room.  You will also be given  instruction on how to use the  house cooking facilities  safely.  Codes In order to prevent other  people gaining access to  boarding accommodation the doors in the boarding houses have code locked doors. You will be given the necessary codes on arrival.  It is important that you keep the codes secret for your own safety and for the safety of your fellow boarders. Even though it is tempting  to tell your friends the code you must not do it.  Lockable spaces In your area you will have a lockable drawer, a lockable cupboard and a code operated safe. You will be shown how to set the code  when you arrive. You should keep valuable and important possessions in these lockable spaces.  13