POLICY OWNER
Director
APPLIES TO
Employees, self-employed specialists, volunteers, contractors
THE ONE RULE TO REMEMBER
Speak up early. You need a reasonable belief, not proof.
1. What counts
A concern made in the public interest that there has been, or is likely to be: a criminal offence; a breach of a legal duty; a danger to anyone's health or safety; sexual harassment; damage to the environment; a miscarriage of justice; or a cover-up of any of these. At our centre this includes fraud or misuse of fees, falsifying registers or results, unsafe premises, and any breach of our safeguarding or data protection rules.
Personal grievances about your own pay or contract are not whistleblowing and go through your contract or terms of engagement.
2. How to raise it
You have a genuine concern YES Follow Policy 1 — tell the DSL today NO Raise it with the Director, in writing if possible Acknowledged within 2 working days; investigated promptly and confidentially YES Closed and recorded
NO, OR THE DIRECTOR IS INVOLVED
Independent Safeguarding Adviser or a prescribed body Figure 4 — Whistleblowing route.
?
Does it involve a child's safety?
?
Satisfied with the outcome?
Whistleblowing Policy How staff and specialists raise a concern about wrongdoing, safely and without fear of reprisal.
Pass 11 Plus Grammar · Policy 02 JMS Publishers and Providers Ltd · Edgbaston, Birmingham Version 1.1 · October 2026 · Page 1 of 2
3. External prescribed bodies
Nature of concern Where to go Child protection Birmingham LADO; NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line 0800 028 0285 Data protection Information Commissioner's Office (ico.org.uk) Health and safety Health and Safety Executive (hse.gov.uk) Fraud or financial wrongdoing Action Fraud or HMRC, as appropriate
4. Protection
No one will be dismissed, lose work, or be treated less favourably for raising a genuine concern. Victimising a whistleblower is a disciplinary matter. Knowingly false or malicious allegations will also be treated seriously. Advice is available from the charity Protect (protect-advice.org.uk).
Pass 11 Plus Grammar · Policy 02 JMS Publishers and Providers Ltd · Edgbaston, Birmingham Version 1.1 · October 2026 · Page 2 of 2