Lesson 7 of 7 · 5 min · 8-card deck

Professional boundaries and your safety

Communication, social media, and protecting both pupils and yourself.

Maintaining clear professional boundaries protects pupils from harm and protects you from misunderstanding or false accusation. Never communicate with pupils on personal accounts — only via school-approved platforms with logging. Never share your personal phone number or social media handles.

Be cautious about being alone with a pupil. If a 1:1 conversation is necessary (e.g. pastoral support), have it in a visible space — a classroom with the door open and windows uncovered, or with another adult nearby. Inform a colleague where you are.

Active recall flashcards

Work through every card. Try to answer in your head before flipping — the act of retrieving is what builds durable memory.

Card 1 of 80 understood

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Practice scenario

A pupil follows a teacher's personal Instagram account. The teacher does not approve the request, blocks the account, screenshots the request and emails the head of safeguarding the same day with a brief factual summary. This protects both the teacher and the pupil.

Try this in your classroom

Communicate with pupils only via school-approved channels.
Avoid being alone with a pupil — keep doors open, windows clear.
Lock down personal social media; never connect with pupils.
Document any unusual interaction the same day, even if it seems minor.