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| School Security |
Securing a school is very important in today’s environment, as the school should ensure the safety of students, staff, and assets within the grounds. With all of the pressure and stress that a school brings, people do not need the added stress over having to worry about their personal safety while in the school’s grounds. Students attend the educational establishment to gain a good education to lead to a more successful career, which is where S2G step in to ensure that the school remains an academic area free from unwanted dangers. S2G guards are always alert, monitoring school entrances, lobbies, offices, playgrounds, and parking areas. We are aware of how anti-social behaviour can cause disruption to the daily running of a school, as well as physical and mental damage to people and damage to buildings. Worse is the fear created amongst pupils, staff and parents, which are out of all proportion to the actual crimes committed? In recent years, the number of incidents at schools involving the safety of pupils and staff, as well as theft and vandalism by walk-in thieves, has led to a reappraisal of the security measures that schools now employ. In fact, security is now an integral part of the OFSTED inspection process.
The following recommendations are an indication of the typical environmental security issues to be considered within a school. However, solutions will vary from site to site and will depend on the location and management style of the school.
- Limit the amount and control visitor access through the main route to the school so that it becomes direct, easily accessible, and clearly signed. The main access routes should not allow any opportunity for unauthorised individuals to have access to other parts of the school.
- Our officers will monitor buildings and assist with staff personal safety.
- Keep the school grounds simple as this will help with monitoring and reduce hiding places.
- Avoid dark areas and provide well lit areas to prevent anti-social behaviour.
- Our guards will check for easy climbing facilities to roofs, which can be provided by rainwater downpipes, overflow pipes and low gutters.
- We will monitor the car park and cycle storage areas, ensure all is secured, and report any faults.
- We will continuously check for secure windows, doors and fencing around the school, and keep a log of any defaults and report them to relevant department(s).
- Check and make sure rubbish disposal areas are away from buildings, and keeping 'wheelie bins' and skips secure so they cannot provide opportunities to access roofs or increase arson attacks.
- We will check for secure boundary and access points for vehicles, and monitor outside parking for visitors who cause obstructive parking outside the school.
- Our secure boundary check is of primary importance to school security. It will reduce and allow the effective management of most crime and anti-social behaviour problems that can be anticipated.
- Roofs should generally be designed to inhibit casual access and avoid hiding places for intruders, as well as weak security points such as roof lights and ventilators.
- Check for appropriate secure storage facilities for high value portable equipment and make sure the equipment is coded and serial numbers are logged in case of theft.
S2G is willing to provide a free advice service to assist in the preparation of an assessment of the school. |
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