At any teaching job interview, it’s likely that you will be faced with a safeguarding question. 

Heads and governors will want to see knowledge and experience of safeguarding best practice and being able to answer this question with confidence will help you make a good impression.  

But how much are teachers supposed to know?

Contents 

1. Why do all teachers need knowledge of safeguarding? 

2. What safeguarding experience will a recruiter want to see evidence of? 

3. Common safeguarding interview questions for teachers 

4. How can you improve your safeguarding knowledge? 

5. What can you do in your current role to gain safeguarding experience? 

6. Find your next role with 91���� 

Why do all teachers need knowledge of safeguarding? 

Safeguarding in schools is everyone’s responsibility. In order to keep children and young people safe, every staff member needs to know the risks children face today and what to do if they suspect a child is in danger.

While safeguarding policies might vary slightly between schools, all teachers need to know the importance of safeguarding and of following a school’s policy. 

The Department for Education’s , which set the minimum requirements for teachers’ practice, outline the following expectations around safeguarding: 

• Firstly, that teachers should “establish a safe and stimulating environment for pupils” 

• Specifically, teachers should have “regard for the need to safeguard pupils’ well-being, in accordance with statutory provisions” 

What safeguarding experience will a recruiter want to see evidence of? 

Schools must follow safe recruitment processes to keep their pupils, staff and whole community as safe as possible. 

Therefore, when you are applying to a teaching job, recruiters will likely want to see that you have up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding practice and training. 

As such, it’s key that you include this in your application and personal statement.

Common safeguarding interview questions for teachers 

We've put together some sample safeguarding interview questions for teachers to help you get ready for your interview: 

What training have you undertaken on safeguarding children in the last year? 

This question wants to discover how up to date your knowledge of safeguarding is and whether you have completed mandatory training. Highlight specific courses and key learning takeaways.

Safeguarding and the well-being of children is central to the ethos of our school. How would you contribute to making the organisation a safer environment for children? 

In asking this, interviewers want to know not just that you understand safeguarding in theory, but how this knowledge contributes to your everyday practice and how you work in the wider school, demonstrating an understanding of how your actions and decisions impact school culture and the overall efficiency of safeguarding practices.

What are your attitudes to child protection and safeguarding? 

This question is about your perspective on safeguarding. Interviewers want to know what makes you a good fit for their school and how you align with their attitude to safeguarding. 

Can you give an example of where you've had to deal with bullying behaviour?

This calls for a real-world example. Here, the STAR method will be useful to structure your response: 

• Situation: provide brief context

  • This can also be a chance to demonstrate your ability to identify safeguarding concerns – how did you become aware of the situation?

• Task: explain what was required

  • What informed this decision – was it based on your training, discussions within the school or past experience?

• Action: share what you did and why
• Result: explain the outcome 
  • This is especially important – what changed because of your safeguarding practice and what impact did this have on the children involved?

If a pupil came to you with a safeguarding concern, what steps would you take to report it? 

Like the above question, this is about how you apply your safeguarding knowledge in your everyday practice. 

Provide a step-by-step explanation of what you would do in the situation and ensure your response is grounded in best practice and the school’s safeguarding and behaviour policies.

What would you do if you were concerned about changes in a pupil’s behaviour? 

This is another question that looks at your application of safeguarding theory and best practice. 

Again, it’s key that your answer is based on the school’s safeguarding policy and that you clearly explain the steps you would take in this situation. 

What do you think are the major safeguarding challenges schools face today? 

This question examines your knowledge of the safeguarding landscape and the common challenges in schools. Interviewers will want to know you have up to date knowledge, so make sure to do your research. 

We recommend reading the latest 91���� Safeguarding Report for clear insight into what schools identify as the major safeguarding challenges they are facing. Things you could mention include the popularity of artificial intelligence (AI) tools and risks posed by social media.

How can you improve your safeguarding knowledge? 

All school staff should receive mandatory induction training and appropriate training and supervision on safeguarding issues on a regular basis. 

You should be familiar with at least part one of the DfE’s . 

KCSIE is statutory guidance and part one sets out current best practice for what all teachers should know and do – so familiarising yourself with this, and ensuring your safeguarding practice is informed by this, is key. 

You should also familiarise yourself with the policies and procedures for dealing with and reporting suspected safeguarding risks in your current school, as well as the school you are interviewing at.

What can you do in your current role to gain safeguarding experience? 

Your school should have an established system for ongoing training and professional development in relation to safeguarding, as well as accessible support for school staff who might be in a position to identify safeguarding concerns. 

Make sure you become familiar with your organisation's particular ways of working and follow this. 

You can also actively draw on the expertise of other agencies and professionals, including your colleagues, to further your knowledge in safeguarding. 

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Originally published in 2017 and updated by 91���� in 2026