Download our Information Booklet At King Edward VI College we recognise the challenges that families face and there may be times when you need extra help and support. Please talk to us. There are many ways we can help through our internal support mechanisms or through signposting to external services, including early help.
We meet the needs of our students via the following services and personnel:
| Role | Name | Contact |
| Designated Safeguarding Lead | Sarah MacKenzie | safeguarding@kedst.ac.uk |
| Senior Safeguarding Officer | Laura Day | |
| Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads
All our safeguarding leads have received advanced and bespoke safeguarding and child protection training. Our Designated Safeguarding Lead has a Master of Science degree in Safeguarding. |
Clare Bramall
Ajay Mehta Lowri Saenger Axelle Parker Stuart Parkes Mehdi Didarzadeh Rebecca Williamson Sam Watkins Nikki Hadley Stuart Parkes Emily Guest |
|
| Designated teacher for Looked After Children | Principal (Holly Bembridge), assisted by Faculty Directors and Lead Tutors | |
| Safeguarding Governor | Sian Fletcher | |
| Pastoral Support | ||
| Lead Tutors
Every student has a Lead Tutor to provide pastoral care and support regarding their programme of study. All our Lead Tutors have undergone Mental Health First Aid and bespoke safeguarding and pastoral support training. |
Mehdi Didarzadeh
Emily Guest Nikki Hadley Stuart Parkes Sam Watkins Rebecca Williamson |
Please call reception via 01384 398100 who can put you through to your child’s lead tutor or take a message. |
| Personal Tutors
Every student has a Personal Tutor who delivers the tutorial programme, conducts one-to-ones and monitors attendance. Most have undertaken Mental Health First Aid training in addition to bespoke pastoral and safeguarding training.
|
Louise Fulwell
Becky Hall Karen Lloyd Tim Middleton Marie Prime Sharon Rollason Julie Gwinnell Jono Smith Zoe Emery Rikki Sehmbi Rachel Oldham |
Please call reception via 01384 398100 who can put you through to your child’s tutor or take a message. |
| The Retreat
This is a quieter study area for students with special educational needs. |
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| Learning Support | ||
| Role | Name | Contact |
| SENCo | Lowri Saenger | Please call reception via 01384 398100 who can put you through to the relevant member of staff or take a message. |
| Exam Access Arrangements Coordinator | Jo Preston | |
| Other Support | ||
| Counselling Service
The counselling service offers confidential sessions for all kinds of issues including problems at college or at home, relationship problems and mental health concerns. |
Mark Brown
Yvette Browne Jay Rogers |
Students can self-refer via counselling@kedst.ac.uk or ask a member of staff to contact the service on their behalf. |
| Mental Health Support Team
This external team work with the Designated Senior Mental Health Lead (Sarah MacKenzie) and deputy Mental Health Lead (Mark Brown) with the counselling team to deliver evidence-based interventions for mild-to-moderate mental health issues. |
counselling@kedst.ac.uk | |
| Reception
Our caring and friendly receptionists are on hand to help students in a variety of ways including providing directions, information on college services and attendance matters. |
Please call reception via 01384 398100 who can put you through to the relevant member of staff or take a message. | |
| Financial Support
Information on the bursary and support with free school meals is available, you will be directed to the relevant person via Reception. |
bursary@kedst.ac.uk | |
| Careers
Our careers team provide specific support regarding careers, volunteering, work experience and Higher Education options. |
David Handy
Lou Harper Faye Lowe Molly Naylor Jane Edwards Emma Parker |
careers@kedst.ac.uk
|
| Aspire
This programme is open to any student looking to maximise their potential and develop their skills beyond the A level curriculum. We provide a range of activities and opportunities designed to challenge, inspire and guide. |
Nick Barley
Ben Jones Issy Barnsley
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aspire@kedst.ac.uk
|
Early Help and Family Help
Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2026 makes it clear that all staff should understand local arrangements for providing support to children and families and be aware of the pathways for community-based support and Family Help. Staff should understand their role in identifying concerns, offering appropriate support, and making referrals where necessary to ensure that students receive the right help at the right time.
Any child may benefit from support before statutory intervention; however, all college staff should be particularly alert to the potential need for Family Help or other early support for a student who:
- is disabled and has specific additional needs, including special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), whether or not they have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP);
- is a young carer;
- is showing signs of being drawn into anti-social or criminal behaviour, including gang involvement or association with organised crime groups;
- is concerned about their own drug or alcohol use;
- is at risk of modern slavery, trafficking, criminal exploitation or sexual exploitation;
- is in family circumstances that present challenges for the student, such as parental substance misuse, mental health difficulties, domestic abuse, or imprisonment;
- has returned home to their family from care;
- is showing early signs of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or other safeguarding concerns;
- is at risk of radicalisation or extremism;
- is pregnant or a teenage parent; or
- is displaying early signs of abusive or harmful behaviour towards others.
We believe that providing support at the earliest opportunity can make a significant difference to outcomes for children and young people and may prevent concerns from escalating. All staff are expected to consider whether additional support, advice, signposting, or Family Help may be beneficial whenever a concern is identified. We work closely with a range of partner agencies and professionals to ensure that students and their families can access appropriate support when needed.
Although King Edward’s School is located within the Dudley local authority area, we recognise that many of our students live in neighbouring authorities. Where support from external agencies is required, we will seek advice from and refer to the most appropriate local services in the student’s home area to ensure they receive timely and effective support.
Early Help and Family Help
Links to organisations who can support with a range of issues including bullying, drug use, mental health and exploitation:
Mental Health Support
