Creating a safe and secure school environment
There is no single blueprint for the perfect school and each learning facility will have its own unique set of strengths and weaknesses. However, every school has a clear and direct responsibility to provide a safe and secure environment for its pupils and staff. The head teacher, facilities team, governing body and LEA all have roles to play in the implementation of an effective security strategy.
When children are admitted onto the school premises there is a duty of care to:
- Safely contain the children on the school site during standard hours
- Protect the children and staff from unwanted / undesirable intruders
- Identify and manage any potential risks or hazards within the confines of the grounds
In addition to this, all physical security initiatives must also take into consideration the inherent need to create a secure site outside of school hours to deter criminal activity, including vandalism, theft and arson.
Security by design
In an ideal world, every school would be designed with security in mind. The reality is that, many educational establishments have been operational for many years with site security having been a low priority, leading to ineffective and deteriorating site security. To combat this it is important for all schools, old or new, to take risk assessments on a regular basis to constantly monitor and identify the level of risk. A comprehensive security survey should be carried out to assess:
- The type and the severity / likelihood of the risk
- Any trends or patterns in incidents occurring at the school
- The existing selection of security measures
- The efficiency of the chosen security measures / identify new security requirements
One of the most effective ways to improve the security of a school site is to install LPCB Security Rated fencing. To achieve a security rating, fencing must undergo the LPS 1175 test which stipulates the allowable toolset and minimum time in which it must prevent forcible entry. The test was devised by the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) who work closely with the government, police, risk consultants and architects to define standards for fire and security products and services.
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