What are the greatest threats to an independent school’s security?
As a company, Jacksons has delivered over 5,000 projects to pre-schools, primary and secondary schools, academies and places of higher education over the past 10 years and we can honestly say that while there are many similarities, virtually every project is characterised by it differences.
Security risks are broadly similar across all schools and these typically include the below points to name a few:
- Preventing unauthorised entry
- Protecting pupils and staff
- Malicious damage
Naturally, boarding schools face additional duties of care and attendant risk where staff and pupil will need to be maintained during and after school hours with different safety and security regimes in operation for each.
EuroGuard Regular
Any common security mistakes that a school leader should avoid?
The two most common and understandable mistakes are to allow the balance sheet to dictate the level of safety and security afforded to pupils, staff and visitors and adopting a reactive rather than strategic approach to security and safety planning and implementation.
What sort of security provision should they look for?
The means to reduce the risk of security and safety incidents with minimal human intervention should rank as a key objective.
A security audit will highlight vulnerabilities to existing and evolving threats as well as the considerations required for efficient school operations including the movement of people and vehicles around the site, the protection of property against malicious and accidental damage, the provision of safe sports and recreation areas, the rapid evacuation of the site and access for emergency services in the event of a major incident.
What would an ideal procurement process look like?
The ideal step by step procurement process would include:
- Consultation with educators, administrative staff, facilities management for input to the current and foreseeable risks which need to be reduced.
- Conduct a thorough security and safety audit.
- Establish your operational requirements and document your security and safety plan.
- Speak with the manufacturers of potential solutions and insist on a site visit.
- For more information about what a typical procurement process looks like please download our full insite paper.
Additional information and guidance on security and safety in an education environment?
There is a wealth of experience and guidance on the subject freely available.
For our part, we can provide you with a White Paper on School Safety and Security Best Practice, a checklist for carrying out a school security audit, expert guidance on the range of perimeter security and access control options, from inherently safe fence and gate designs approved by RoSPA and conforming to BS EN 1176 for application in preparatory and junior schools and play areas to a wide variety of LPS1175 certified security fencing and gate systems and even acoustic barriers which provide security, privacy and prevent the migration of environmental noise into or from a school site.
In addition, the Designing Out Crime Officer at your local police force and Secured by Design’s New
Schools Guidance document are excellent sources of further information.
