Building Schools for the Future (BSF) represents the biggest-ever school buildings investment programme and, to date, some 86 secondary are reported to have benefited from the initiative. Now with the Primary Capital Programme (PCP) adding a further £1.9 billion of capital investment between 2008 – 2011 to start the building of 350 new / replacement primary schools and the major refurbishment of 850 schools scheduled to be completed by 2022, the education sector has never been in sharper focus.
While in essence, both the BSF and PCP programmes are highly commendable, what is the point in the substantial targeting of funds designed to improve the built environment within the education sector, if these new schools fail to harness the opportunity to meet the increasing security needs of the 21st century? What if these attractive and no doubt sophisticated buildings are planned without giving careful consideration of the present and future security architecture that will ensure delivery of the required ‘duty of care’ to staff, visitors and of course, to pupils?
The October 2008 "Evaluation of Building Schools for the Future" Technical Report examines the success of the BSF progamme to date and surveys pupils and teachers on their experience of the initiative. Sadly very little information can be gleaned which relates to the security perceptions of the new buildings aside from a pupil survey question which asks children’s views on the statement ‘the school building feels like a safe place to be’ to which 45pc of respondents who were in a BSF school agreed with this statement whilst an alarming 54pc were unsure or disagreed. Given the current economic climate, the recorded acts of arson and the alarming growth of a gun culture within inner cities, it would appear to make more sense for greater emphasis to be given to creating safer, secure schools.
Threats to school security
The ability to gain access to a school with the intent of causing criminal damage is an obvious security issue out of school hours. Zurich Municipal Insurance – the main provider of insurance to schools in the UK cites arson, wilful fire-raising, general vandalism and theft as the most prominent issues affecting insurance claims – and also draws reference to the increasing appeal / value of equipment (including IT equipment) as a likely trigger of unauthorized entry to a school building. Unauthorised entry poses an obvious threat but of equal importance are the breaches to security which do not necessarily result in physical damage to property. For example, meeting the requirement to provide a safe and secure environment, free from the threat of criminal and anti-social behaviour or the need to prevent access to individuals’ intent on inflicting violence. We have only to recall the catastrophic events of Dunblane and more recently Winnenden, to appreciate the potentially disastrous outcomes of a breach in security and a failure to protect children from harm or risk (as defined in The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act introduced in 2006).
School security – whose responsibility is it?
OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills) came into operation in 2007 and holds responsibility for ‘inspecting and regulating to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages". However, OFSTED does not make school security audits per se and the only reference to safety in the inspection guidelines relates to the standard’s Focus on Every Child Matters where officers are asked to look for evidence that allows a child to ‘stay safe -for example, keeping learners safe from bullying, harassment and other dangers’.
In 1995 the Department for Children, Schools and Families chaired, Working Group on School Security (WGSS) was set up by the Secretary of State following the fatal stabbing of Philip Lawrence. The remit of the WGSS was and continues to be "to identify good practice in maintaining security in and around schools ….". One of the suggestions that came out of the WGSS was the appointment of a designated member of staff to take on the role of school security co-coordinator. The School Security Co-coordinator was identified as "playing an important role in contributing towards enhancing knowledge and understanding within the school of security issues, in terms of securing the school premises both during out outside of school hours as well as ensuring the personal safety of staff and pupils". In the US, the School Resource Officer (SRO) programmes have been in operation since the 1960s. Although the placement of law enforcement officers in schools has grown tremendously over the past decade, the move to do so appears to have increased dramatically following the shootings of the late 1990s.
Over here, schools, police and local agencies are being encouraged by the Department of Children, Schools and Families to sign up to Safer School Partnerships and work more closely together to keep schools and children safe as well as reduce anti-social behaviour. Safer School Partnerships are a structured way for schools and police to work with one another, and with other local partners. They may involve having a police officer based in a school or police working with groups of schools. They can help engage children, keep schools safe and reduce anti-social behaviour in the wider community. Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children Schools and Families says: "It is important to ensure our children are safe and Safer Schools Partnerships are a proven way of helping to achieve this." However, research seems to indicate that in this country it is still individual schools that are responsible for the day to day management of security and there is currently no direct mandate for a School Security officer
Guidance on school security
Schools are educators, not security experts and looking at security in-the-round is alien to most Head Teachers, Governors, Facilities Managers or Caretakers whose actions are usually prompted by an incident. However, help is at hand and at the very least those involved should consider a review of the guidance laid out in the ‘Secured by Design – Schools’ recommendations (issued by the Association of Chief Police officers as part of the Secured by Design initiative) and in ‘School and Academy Design’ – a guide to the design and protection of Schools and Academy buildings published by Zurich Municipal Insurance. Designing security for a typical school is usually a complex process, but it should start with a risk assessment on the most likely threats, their nature, who is most likely to carry them out, why and where.
Importance of perimeter security
Security fencing was identified by Zurich as the ‘most effective of all the measures commonly available to provide protection to a school against theft, malicious damage and any subsequent deliberately set fire’. Fit for purpose physical perimeter security measures combined with effective access control should form the cornerstone of any school security upgrade. Richard Jackson, Chief Executive of Jacksons Fencing – experts in the field of intelligent perimeter security systems says "The Head Teacher, Facilities Team, governing body and the LEA all have roles to play to ensure a school has an effective school security strategy in place. At the most basic level, parents need to be reassured that once children are contained within the school grounds they will be protected from unwanted intruders and any danger. But a school also needs to be protected from the threat of vandalism, theft, concealment and arson. Any failure to implement a plan to create a safe environment comes at an enormous cost – not just in terms of financial loss and disruption, but also loss of confidence from parents and pupils and the impact of potentially lasting damage to a school’s reputation. We wholly support the guidelines in the ‘Secured by Design – Schools’ dossier and echo the sentiment that whilst perimeter security plays a vital role in establishing a secure physical frontline defence, it needs to be designed taking into consideration the security and access control requirements of the entire site. Boundary fencing which meets the Secured by Design recommendations of a minimum of 2 m in height and is vandal resistant, robust and difficult to scale with an anti climb topping, is rendered useless if it is not interfaced with intelligent access control solutions across the entire campus."
Factors contributing to a secure school site
? The number of entrances to a school site should always be reduced to the minimum practicable and vehicles and pedestrians should be segregated but directed through one main entry and exit, so siting car parks, footpaths and drop off / pick up points in appropriate locations can help to achieve this
? On larger sites it is usually advisable to consider pedestrian gates and turnstiles with access control and management systems
? All visitors to the site should be screened and their reason for requiring access validated prior to gaining entry. Ensure that anyone scheduled to carry out any work within the school grounds conforms to the requirements of the Safeguarding the Vulnerable Groups Act, is CRB cleared and able to provide proof of identity
? Access controls should work in conjunction with any fire alarm installation to enable the safe and speedy evacuation of the site in the event of an emergency
? Perimeter fencing should restrict both unauthorised access and exit and must be specifically designed to be fit for purpose. For example, the Jacksons Barbican, Sentry and Ornamental ranges all feature a welded pale-through-rail construction which is not only inherently strong and vandal proof, but also gives a better finish with no visible joints or unsightly bolts. Unlike generic riveted palisade fencing, the Jacksons solution cannot be easily forced apart or used to create a ‘gate’ to the site. Jacksons Fencing is designed in-house and subject to rigorous trials and testing to destruction
? Selective planting of thorny bushes and hedging can complement the choice of security fencing, providing additional protection whilst also helping to meet the aesthetic requirements of the local community. Care needs to be taken to ensure that the fenceline is clear from overhanging branches, storage bins or vehicles that can act as a climbing aid
? Security fencing that is attractive as well as functional can also help overcome the concern of creating a prison like environment. Higher security versions of Jacksons EuroGuard Combi and Jakoustic timber / steel mesh designs have recently been approved by Government following testing and meet the requirements of Secured by Design’s Police Preferred Specification. All fencing and gates must comply with current quality and safety regulations – the latter is especially important in today’s increasingly litigious society. All Jacksons vertical bar railing type fencing and gates conform to UK Building Regulations for anti-trap with a 100mm pale spacing as standard. Gate specifications should match the fencing, be lockable, incorporate anti-lift hinges and avoid any features which assist climbing. Jacksons automated sliding and and swing gate designs are CE certified and comply with EU Machinery Directive, essential if the school wants to meet with its duty of care and protect itself against possible costly litigation in the event of an accident
? In infant and junior schools and for play areas, schools should opt for RoSPA approved and BSEN 1176 compliant products. Jacksons Anti-trap Bow Top fencing, Play Time ranges and self-closing gates all comply with BS EN 1176 play fence standards and are RoSPA approved, and as an added feature can be colour coated to enhance the children’s play environment
Site security audit
It is impossible to create a secure school site without reviewing each case on an individual basis. Geographical location, characteristics of the site itself, local community relations, details of historical security issues, anticipated traffic flow and pupil behaviour are just some of the factors that need to be taken into consideration when developing robust security architecture. The issue of designing Security for Schools was addressed at the 2009 BSEC (Building Schools Exhibition and Conference) conference in Manchester. The view that the early engagement of security consultants is essential was widely supported. There was a "consensus of agreement at BSEC that successful protection of educational environments and their users arises from early consideration of the particular security requirements and risks associated with a particular area or site, and the integration of appropriate security responses to these issues," Senior Architect Bob Hodges revealed.
"It is important for all parties to consider security issues at the outset of a school project in order that a coordinated and cost-planned approach can be developed to provide the correct level of integrated and appropriate security provision" he added.
"Whether reviewing the needs of a new or existing school, the priority must be on the planning", continues Richard Jackson. "Only then can we hope to achieve the very best solutions, designed to make 21st century schools secure, safe and future perfect environments. We would urge all parties associated with the provision and operation of school buildings – from architects, teachers, governors, local authorities and building commissioners – to take advantage of the audit service provided by companies who have the prerequisite experience and expertise and Secured by Design, LPCB accredited products to ensure appropriate school site security measures are put in place. Findings from the first wave of our own School Security Audits carried out by our Fencing Managers across the country show managing access points, reducing noise and providing a secure perimeter outside school hours to be the main concerns. The threats that schools most want to protect against are unauthorized entry to and egress from their grounds during school hours, and acts of vandalism, theft and arson out of hours"
To request a Jacksons School Security Audit, call 01233 750 393 or email [email protected].
Further information on Jacksons school security solutions can be found online at –
