I don’t know the procedure in senior school or college, but I can explain how safeguarding concerns are recorded at primary level.
Every school has a designated safe guarding lead and at least one deputy.
EVERY staff member has safe guarding training. I was actually the school safe guarding governor, so I also had to do a regular review on procedures being followed correctly.
If a child discloses information, that is recorded on a cause for concern form. You must not ask the child leading questions, you mustn’t assume information, and the form must only record facts, not your opinion. In the case of visible injuries, a picture can be drawn, but no photos taken.
A cause for concern can be raised for many things, not just obvious abuse, but also a child’s appearance, or behaviour.
The child might not directly tell a staff member anything at all, it could be that bruises are noticed, or the child reeks of urine, or they are always hungry.
Not all causes for concern are reported to SS, although obviously ones relating to physical and sexual abuse are, or ones where a young child is being left alone at home.
All the forms are kept though, as you often see a pattern of low level neglect emerge.
In many years, I have known very, very few children removed and placed elsewhere.
Usually the parents are given chance after chance