Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment

CHILD SAFEGUARDING RISK ASSESSMENT – 2023
Written Assessment of Risk of St. Angela’s Academy of Music Ursuline Convent Thurles Co Tipperary
In accordance with section 11 of the Children First Act 2015 and with the requirement of Chapter 8 of the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017, the following is the Written Risk Assessment of St Angela’s Academy of Music.
List of school activities:
The school is run by Sr Cecilia O’Dwyer and employs more than twenty teachers in all disciplines of music, including piano, voice, strings, woodwind, brass, percussion, traditional, pre-instrumental and theory.
Almost 350 students are currently enrolled in the school but over five hundred lessons are delivered each week, due to many students studying multiple instruments. St. Angel’s Academy is affiliated to the Ursuline Secondary School and the Scoil Angela Primary School, all located on the same school grounds.

  • Daily arrival and dismissal of pupils.
  • Group Classes – Pre-Instrumental, Theory, Traditional, Guitar
  • One to one teaching – Piano, Harp, Violin, Cello, Voice, Wind & Brass, Drums
  • Two musical evenings held each year.
  • Use of toilet in the school
  • Management of challenging behaviour amongst pupils
  • Administration of First Aid
  • Prevention and dealing with bullying amongst pupils.
  • Training of school personnel in child protection matters.
  • Recruitment of school personnel including – Teachers, Secretary,
    Cleaners, contractors etc.
  • Application of sanctions under the school’s Code of Behaviour including
    detention of pupils, confiscation of phones etc.
  • Use of video/photography/other media to record school events.
  • Use of school premises by other organisations
    The school has identified the following risk of harm in respect of its activities –
  • Risk of child being harmed in the school by a member of school personnel.
  • Risk of child being harmed in the school by another child.
  • Risk of child being harmed in the school by a visitor to the school.
  • Risk of harm due to bullying of the child
  • Risk of harm due to inadequate supervision of children in the school
  • Risk of harm due to inappropriate relationship/communication between child and
    another child or adult
  • Risk of harm due to children inappropriately accessing/using computers, social media,
    phones and other devices while at school
  • Risk of harm due to inadequate Code of Behaviour
  • Risk of harm in one-to-one teaching.
  • Risk of harm caused by member of school personnel communicating with pupils in
    appropriate manner via social media, texting, digital device, or other manner
  • Risk of harm caused by member of school personnel accessing/circulating.
    inappropriate material via social media, texting, digital device, or other manner
  • Risk of harm of access to the Music School by unwanted personnel
  • Risk of harm to Students re use of the Academy premises by other organisations
  • Risk of isolation or intimidation during group work or practical activities etc.
  • Risk of harm to students during school concerts
  • Risk of Trauma to the child in the event of a critical incident
  • Risk of harm to children when photographs are shared on the Music School Website
    The school has the following procedures in place to address the risks of harm identified in this assessment –
  • All Music Academy are provided with a copy of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement
  • The Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017 are made available to all Music Academy personnel.
  • Music Academy personnel are required to adhere to the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017
  • The Music Academy has an Anti-Bullying Policy which fully adheres to the requirements of the Department’s Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools
  • The Music Academy has a Health and safety policy.
  • The Music Academy adheres to the requirements of the Garda vetting legislation re recruitment.
  • The Academy has a Code of Conduct for Music Academy staff.
  • The Academy has in place a policy and procedures for the administration of First Aid to pupils.
  • The Music Academy has in place a Code of Behaviour for pupils.
  • The Music Academy has in place an ICT policy in respect of usage of ICT by students – does not apply as no access to computers in the Academy.
  • The school has in place a mobile phone policy in respect of usage of mobile phones by pupils.
  • The school has in place a policy and clear procedures for one-to-one teaching activities.
  • The Music Academy –
    ➢ Has provided each member of the Music School Staff with a copy of the Academy’s Child Safeguarding Statement
    ➢ Ensures all new staff is provided with a copy of the Academy’s Child Safeguarding Statement
    ➢ Encourages Academy staff to avail of relevant training.
    ➢ Maintains records of all Academy staff training
    ➢ New Staff are introduced to our Child Protection Policy and must attend an information day given by Cleo Yates the Director of
    ➢ Safeguarding in the Diocese of Cashel & Emly
  • Glass panels are on doors in all Music Rooms
  • Extra supervision provided during Musical evenings.
  • The street door is locked throughout the day and has a keypad. The back door is
    accessible throughout the day but only as a link to the Ursuline Primary and
    Secondary school.
  • The Band Room is only used by outside groups when music lessons are not in
    progress – weekends Friday night to Sunday afternoon.
  • Parental permission is obtained before the school publishes photographs on the
    website or on newspapers.
    Important Note: It should be noted that risk in the context of this risk assessment is the risk of “harm” as defined in the Children First Act 2015 and not general health and safety risk. “harm” means, in relation to a child— (a) Assault, ill-treatment, or neglect of the child in a manner that seriously affects or is likely to seriously affect the child’s health, development, or welfare or (b) Sexual abuse of the child, whether caused by a single act, omission, or circumstance or a series or combination of acts, omissions, or circumstances, or otherwise.
    In undertaking this risk assessment, the administration has endeavoured to identify as far as possible the risks of harm that are relevant to this school and to ensure that adequate procedures are in place to manage all risks identified. While it is not possible to foresee and remove all risk of harm, the school has in place the procedures listed in this risk assessment to manage and reduce risk to the greatest possible extent.
    This risk assessment has been completed by Sr. Cecilia on January 17, 2022. It shall be reviewed as part of the school’s annual review of its Child Safeguarding Statement.
    Reviewed – March 30, 2023
    Signed: Sr Cecilia O’ Dwyer