What steps can schools take to keep staff and pupils safe from intruders? Conny Brandt outlines a comprehensive approach based on the principles of Deter, Detect, Delay and Protect
When identifying emergencies that are likely to arise in your area, intruders may or may not be high on your list. However, this is sadly something that could occur absolutely anywhere. Over the last year, we have reviewed and strengthened our security procedures significantly – here is what we looked at:
Deter
The best protection is to make your school as challenging a target as possible. Having strong physical security, such as locks, fences and gates, is an obvious protection. It’s worth getting a fresh pair of eyes to have a look around your site to assist with your review! Are there any areas where the security could be bypassed, e.g. a bin or shed close to the fence that an intruder could climb over? It also makes a difference how well overlooked your school entrance is, both from the surrounding area and from inside the building. There is a helpful DfE self-assessment you can use.
An intruder may well visit the site beforehand to scout and plan – this is where a strong safety culture is really important. Having staff that are alert to any strangers, or anyone behaving oddly, may deter potential intruders. Protect UK offers a free training video for staff in education settings on how to spot the unusual or suspicious, and how to respond appropriately if do you see anything of concern.
Detect
If a dangerous individual does make it on to your site, how will you alert your staff team? You can get visual alerts that show on screens across the school, and/or audible alarms that can link to existing systems such as your fire alarm. If it’s audible, it needs to be loud enough to be easily heard, but not so penetrating that you can’t stand to be in the building while it goes off! Alarm points should be located in the areas where you are most likely to spot an intruder, or where an intruder is more likely to gain access. These will include the main entrance, but you also need to consider other parts of your site that could be used for entry. You will want a way to communicate with staff during the incident, whilst keeping quiet: two-way radios may be good for other emergencies but could draw unhelpful attention during a lockdown.
If you have spotted a potentially dangerous individual in your grounds but they have not yet entered the building, is there anyone else you can or should alert, such as other nearby schools? If so, speak to them to make this part of your security arrangements – and you should become part of theirs.
Delay
Anything that makes it more difficult for an intruder to get into the building and move around the building if they do gain access helps keep your staff and pupils safe while emergency services are on their way. This can include fob operated doors, lockable doors (via keys or thumb turns) as well as furniture pushed against doors.
Protect
You will want to identify safe spaces for staff, pupils and visitors to withdraw into. Rooms that are in the building’s interior, away from windows and doors, or higher up, are the most suitable for this. It is particularly important to find suitable safe spaces for staff in areas where an intruder is more likely to gain access, such as reception areas.
What can staff and pupils do to keep safe during a lockdown emergency? Having items such as iPads, sensory toys or snacks to hand can help pupils keep quiet. This is particularly relevant for SEND pupils, who may need additional support during lockdowns – we have introduced a document equivalent to a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) for pupils who may need particular strategies to assist them during a lockdown. For our drills, we helped to prepare our SEND pupils by recording the alarm sound beforehand, so that they know what to expect, as well as having a visual schedule of the procedure.
Once you have drawn up a lockdown procedure, you need to carry out regular drills, just as with fire evacuations.
It is always helpful to get input from someone external, such as a Governor, colleague from another school or, ideally, a member of the Emergency services. They may well notice an issue or weakness that staff who walk past it every day do not! Emergency services should also be able to give you an idea of likely response times.
It is worth noting that your procedures will only work if staff follow them – having really secure doors won’t help if the doors are left open! Including site security messages in staff briefings, staffroom posters, and giving regular reminders help to keep staff security conscious.
As with fire, whilst it is never possible to complete eliminate a threat, a robust procedure will help minimise the risk to all members of our school community.
