In this episode of the ABC of Safeguarding, our host Delyth Lynch heads up north to Giggleswick School, where she meets senior deputy head and designated safeguarding lead Christian San Jose.
He talks about how teaching was his “third career”, after some time in PR in London and over six years in the army, where he served in Iraq and Kosovo.
Finally settling on teaching in 2010, he first brought his huge life experience into the classrooms of Radley College, where he also ran the Combined Cadet Force.
Christian talks about taking on the DSL role at Giggleswick School and everything it entails, and how he first developed his listening and relationship-building skills at Sandhurst.
Developing a sense of calm and rationality as a DSL is essential, he says, as is attention to detail.
He talks about the importance of developing more junior staff and making the most of the funny moments a boarding school always offers.
