Does Your School Comply With Ofsted And HSE Safety Regulations?

Back in 2017, Ofsted’s Common Inspection Framework: Education Skills and Early Years: said

"Inspectors will always have regard for how well children and learners are helped and protected so that they are kept safe."

In 2022, the new Education inspection framework still says that.

BUT the follow up document called the School Inspection Handbook states:

Safeguarding and security #28

We do not require schools to
- take any specific steps with regard to site security. In particular, inspectors do not have a view about the need for perimeter fences or lockdown alarms.

HOWEVER just because Ofsted’s inspectors have stopped checking on this vital element of school security, it doesn't mean it's no longer relevant for the Responsible Person at a School

BECAUSE in the DfE Gov.uk Guidance on Health & Safety: Responsibilities and duties for schools, it says

#8 School security and emergency preparation
All schools should have plans in place to enable them to manage and respond to incidents related to school security. DfE is consulting on guidance to help schools with school security procedures. https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/school-security-draft-guidance

Schools should also have procedures for controlling access and barring individuals from premises. Schools can decide whether to include this within their school security plan or deal with the issue when it arises in another plan or procedure.

The DfE recommends guidance on helping schools with accessing and barring of individuals from premises.

Health and safety emergency procedures schools should consider include:

serious injury to a pupil or member of staff (for example, transport accident)
significant damage to school property (for example, fire)
criminal activity (for example, bomb threat)
severe weather (for example, flooding)
public health incidents (for example, flu pandemic)
the effects of a disaster in the local community

DfE provides emergency planning and response for education, childcare, and children’s social care settings. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/emergencies-and-severe-weather-schools-and-early-years-settings

So your school still needs to comply with HSE regulations.

If you're based in Essex, London or the South east, scroll down and click the Get Your Quote button below to speak to an expert on School Fire & Security.
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This post is based on an Ofsted document that has since been withdrawn. Please click the link to see the updated framework document.

Education inspection framework

This post is based on an Ofsted document that has since been withdrawn.

Ofsted grades are important but, whether you're happy with a Good rating or want to reach for the stars and get Outstanding, could your School's security be letting you down?

Ofsted And HSE Safety Security

Although Ofsted is not a security/HSE regulation authority and there is no set criteria for evaluating health and safety, it plays a large part in your School's inspection. 2016 guidance given to Ofsted inspectors makes numerous references to the safeguarding and security of pupils, staff and visitors.

From the Common Inspection Framework: Education Skills and Early Years:

"Inspectors will always have regard for how well children and learners are helped and protected so that they are kept safe."

While protecting and safeguarding children isn't solely about the physical security of the School, it is still an important factor to consider.

In fact, Ofsted's Safeguarding in schools: best practice document refers to site security as an element of safeguarding and a common feature of Outstanding schools.

• "Robust arrangements for site security, understood and applied by staff and pupils"
• "Inspection reports on effective schools frequently commend the site security arrangements"
• "Increasingly, inspectors report the use of security cameras around schools."
• "Regular fire drills are carried out so that staff and pupils know what to do in the event of a fire and appropriate checks are made of fire-fighting equipment."

In evaluating the effectiveness of safeguarding in schools, inspectors focus on a broad range of issues including:

'the effectiveness of health and safety policies and procedures, including conducting necessary risk assessments as well as regular checks on equipment and premises and the effectiveness of arrangements to provide a safe environment and secure school site.'

These references indicate that your Osted Inspector will be checking for a safe and secure site.

In short - safeguarding is about site security too

So what is it exactly that the inspectors are looking for and does your School comply?

Here are some examples of what the Ofsted guidance asks inspectors to look for, it's a good idea for you to consider these too:

• "the extent to which arrangements in a setting are having a positive impact on the safety and welfare of children and learners."
• "leaders, governors and supervisory bodies (where appropriate) fulfil statutory requirements, such as those for disability, safeguarding, recruitment and health and safety"
• "appropriate arrangements are made with regards to health and safety to protect staff and learners from harm"
• "inspectors have a duty to take prompt and proportionate action and to report any significant health and safety risks affecting learners that are identified during the course of an inspection."
• "the employer has primary responsibility for the health and safety of the learner and should be managing any risks"

This list along with the previous references indicate that inspectors will be considering the physical safety and security of your School.

So how can you maximise the physical security of your School to reduce the health and safety risks to your pupils, staff and visitors?

Security And Fire Safety Options For Schools

Well, the options are varied but here's a short list of typical physical security features you can have installed in your School. The most common security features we install at Blake's are:

• Burglar alarms
• Access Control
• CCTV
• Fire Alarms
• Fire Extinguishers
• Emergency Lighting

While all Schools will have some of these security systems, sadly they aren't always fit for purpose. This may be due to substandard maintenance or even poor planning and installation in the first place!

For example, the mere existence of Fire Extinguishers isn't sufficient if they haven't been maintained properly. You need to be sure your extinguishers will provide adequate cover if the worst happens. A broken or malfunctioning Fire Extinguisher is worse than useless and could even be putting people at risk.

It's critical your school employs professional, qualified Security and Fire Safety contractors to design, install and maintain your systems. The old adage springs to mind - if you think a professional is expensive, try using an amateur!

Choosing Contractors Who Won't Let You Down

Budget plays a huge part in a School's decision about which contractors to use but, as with most things, deciding on price alone isn't wise. Cheapest isn't always best!

In fact, on numerous occasions after taking over maintenance for schools, we've discovered systems that weren't anywhere near fit for purpose.

To protect against choosing the wrong installation company, you can check for competency by looking for specific accreditations. You can check some of these online, including:

• BAFE - for fire detection systems
• NSI and SSAIB - for fire and security systems
• CHAS - for the contractors HSE competency

It's more than a good idea to check these accreditations, it's vital. If there is an emergency and something goes wrong, you could be liable - regardless of what the Ofsted Inspectors think!

Ofsted and HSE Safety Regulations - School Prosecutions

In 2009, a School's governing body was prosecuted when a contracted worker accidentally set fire to the School while using an electric saw. They were fined £2,000 (see page 4) for not ensuring the contractors they used were competent to perform the job required.

Crucially, if the school had checked that the contractor was accredited before employing him, then they could have proved they had done everything reasonable to ensure the competence of the hired workers.

Getting Health and Safety right includes security and will keep the Ofsted Inspectors happy. Failing to do so may result in fines and prosecutions which can have a big impact on the School's budget and day to day running, as well as reputation.

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