Safeguarding in the Report Card Era: Evidencing Culture, Not Just Compliance

The new Ofsted Report Card (November 2025) reframes safeguarding as the foundation of a school’s culture rather than a standalone judgement. The question is no longer “Is safeguarding effective?” but “How does your culture safeguard everyone in your community?” Safeguarding must now be seen, heard and felt in every corridor, classroom and leadership decision. It can no longer live only within policies and checklists.

From Policy to Practice: Bringing It to Life

Inspectors will expect to see safeguarding lived in everyday actions and relationships. A policy on the shelf is necessary but not sufficient. Staff consistently notice and act on small safeguarding cues. Staff meetings and supervision include reflective moments such as 'What did I do this week to help a pupil feel safe?'. Induction and ongoing training translate clearly into practice. The Education Endowment Foundation highlights that sustained coaching, modelling and feedback are key to embedding change. Short reflective prompts or professional conversations achieve more than lengthy surveys. This is about working smarter, not harder.

Reflective Supervision and Leadership Capacity: Safeguarding the Safeguarders

Leaders must demonstrate how they protect those who protect others. The emotional toll carried by Designated Safeguarding Leads, pastoral staff and senior leaders is significant and sustained. Structured supervision allows space to process emotions and strengthen confidence in decision making. Leaders who embed supervision are demonstrating psychological safety and integrity.

The Power of Supervision:
”After her first term as DSL, Sarah found herself replaying a complex referral long after the school day had ended. Through structured reflective supervision, she gained space to process the decision, recognise her own emotions and confirm the threshold used was appropriate. The outcome was greater confidence, reduced anxiety and a stronger, safer process for future cases.”

Culture Through Curriculum: Safeguarding as More Than a Topic

Safeguarding should flow through the curriculum as naturally as literacy and numeracy. Personal, Social and Health Education, online safety, assemblies, pupil voice and subject content all contribute to this culture. Curriculum mapping, pupil work and small group pupil voice can all show how safety and respect are embedded.

Culture in Corridors:
”During a recent safeguarding learning walk, leaders noticed how often pupils greeted staff and how calmly transitions between lessons took place. When asked, pupils said, 'Our teachers always notice if something isn’t right.' It was not policy that created safety, but the consistency of everyday relational behaviour.”

Evidence That Speaks for Itself: Reducing Reliance on Data Dumps

Strong evidence is holistic and human. Logs and records matter, but they are not the full story. Inspectors will triangulate what leaders say, what staff know, what pupils feel and what records show. The most confident schools ensure that these stories align and reflect culture, not compliance.

Evidence That Lives:

“When governors asked how safeguarding culture could be evidenced, the headteacher presented three short case summaries showing how decisions had been made and reviewed through supervision. Staff voice, pupil feedback and supervision notes told one consistent story. Inspectors later cited this as an example of coherent, authentic evidence.”

5. The Ofsted Lens: What Inspectors Will Look For

Under the 2025 model, safeguarding threads through leadership, behaviour, wellbeing and inclusion. Inspectors will ask whether decisions and daily practices genuinely keep pupils safe and staff supported. Consistency, depth, reflection and impact are what matter most.

In Summary

Safeguarding in 2025 will not be assessed through the weight of your documentation but through the quality of your culture. Leaders who prioritise supervision, reflective dialogue and relational practice are already ahead. Those who invest in simple, smart evidence systems and staff wellbeing are not just inspection ready, they are building safer schools.