Page 8 | To think it's very depressing that school children need to learn this

Eastie77Returns · 2025-03-20T15:04:26+00:00

DD's school is producing a video showing children what to do in the event there is an intruder in the school and they need to go into 'lockdown'. I found out as she has been asked to take part in the video production.She is in Y7. DS is in Y4 and he told me they did a practice drill at his primary school where they followed the steps they needed to take in a similar situation. Honestly it makes me feel very sad. I understand in the current climate it's necessary and in countries like the US it's standard but I never thought I'd see something like this here.

MissRoseDurward · 20/03/2025 20:28

These incidents are obviously tragic but incredibly rare.

How often is there a fire at a school during the day when the children are there? Should they not do fire drill because it's 'incredibly rare'?

Onelifeonly · 20/03/2025 20:23

Sheeparelooseagain · 20/03/2025 19:19

"Most schools didn't have secure fencing and keypad entry system prior to 13 March 1996 either but they all do now."

I was teaching at the time and I remember the school installing keypad entry and lockable doors soon afterwards.

Me too! Before that all our school doors were left open all day. Anyone could get in.

strawlight · 20/03/2025 20:20

Tandora · 20/03/2025 20:14

Hey shooter, can you hear the classroom full of panicking kids? Easy target.

What do you think the probability in the UK is of a child being shot at school?

I think schools should spend more time/ redirect their focus on educating the population about evaluating risk 🤦 and less time teaching children to hide under desks.

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Ok, stabber, machete wielder, whatever… if it make you feel better to have your kid stabbed than shot.

Guns and bullets can be made using a 3D printer. It’s only a matter of time before one of these weapons is used.

Invacuations and lockdowns should be as common place as evacuations or fire drills. You really are naive not to understand that in this day and age.

ExIssues · 20/03/2025 20:19

RhinestoneCowgirl · 20/03/2025 15:36

DS is 18, he did lockdown drills throughout his time at primary school, the children were told it was in case there was a dangerous dog in the playground.

They had to do the drill for real at least once, usually an angry dad.

What was the angry dad going to do to the children and how did the lockdown drill help?

Amberlynnswashcloth · 20/03/2025 20:16

Where is the guidance for these drills coming from? Are they following any evidenced based protocol or does each school just make it up as they go along?

IThinkHesTalkingToYou · 20/03/2025 20:16

Hi OP, yes it is sad but necessary unfortunately. As a member of staff I have done this drill in multiple schools I’ve worked in. It’s the norm now 😔 But on the flip side, great to know what to do in such an event and to know that the children are prepared too. Have never had to use the training either. It’s important to know.

queenofthebongo · 20/03/2025 20:15

I had to discuss this scenario the other week with a 7tutor group. As I was trying say how unlikely it would be…..2 children in the same class said they had to lockdown in their (different) primary schools. One was for a large loose dog and the other was a burglar who was on the run with a knife! You just never know!

Tandora · 20/03/2025 20:14

strawlight · 20/03/2025 20:12

Hopefully there isn’t an incident at your kids school where they’re required to hide and keep quiet. Because they’re just going to be scared and confused and loud, aren’t they. Hey shooter, can you hear the classroom full of panicking kids? Easy target.

What a strange attitude.

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Hey shooter, can you hear the classroom full of panicking kids? Easy target.

What do you think the probability in the UK is of a child being shot at school?

I think schools should spend more time/ redirect their focus on educating the population about evaluating risk 🤦 and less time teaching children to hide under desks.

strawlight · 20/03/2025 20:12

Tandora · 20/03/2025 19:27

Personally I think the drills are completely ridiculous and no I wouldn’t want my child doing them. Thankfully she’s at a school that doesn’t buy into the hysteria.

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Hopefully there isn’t an incident at your kids school where they’re required to hide and keep quiet. Because they’re just going to be scared and confused and loud, aren’t they. Hey shooter, can you hear the classroom full of panicking kids? Easy target.

What a strange attitude.

Tandora · 20/03/2025 20:10

witwatwoo · 20/03/2025 20:07

Ignorant, arrogant and insulting. Safeguarding children is non negotiable. I hope you never experience what we have in Southport

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You could make an argument in response to my points or you can just insult me 💁🏼‍♀️. I think it’s clear why you chose the later.

As I said, it’s not “safeguarding” when there’s no evidence that the measures are relevant, proportionate, or prevent / mitigate harm. Meanwhile there is evidence that they are themselves potentially harmful. That’s the opposite of safeguarding.

DappledThings · 20/03/2025 20:09

Doingmybestbut · 20/03/2025 20:08

You sweet summer child.

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In your rush to be sarcastic you missed the more subtle sarcasm of that post.

Doingmybestbut · 20/03/2025 20:08

Donotgogentle · 20/03/2025 18:24

DS’s school definitely doesn’t do lockdown drills.

Just fire drills and practises of what to do if a wild dog gets into the school.

You sweet summer child.

witwatwoo · 20/03/2025 20:07

Tandora · 20/03/2025 20:04

These incidents are obviously tragic but incredibly rare. I can’t see any evidence that rolling out lockdown drills in schools is a) relevant, b) proportionate c) in anyway evidenced as shown to help/ mitigate this kind of risk.
There is , however, evidence that these drills can be psychologically harmful to kids.
It’s just more of this anti-terror hysteria we go in for these days. Nothing rational about it.

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Ignorant, arrogant and insulting. Safeguarding children is non negotiable. I hope you never experience what we have in Southport

Devonshiregal · 20/03/2025 20:07

MidnightPatrol · 20/03/2025 15:07

Yes, it is a shame.

But, as we know from the case in the papers this week, it is a genuine (if very small) risk.

Why what did I miss?

MikeRafone · 20/03/2025 20:06

I e done this drill after the French terrorist attacks

its about hiding and not being tricked into coming out of hiding and getting hurt,

it’s useful

Doingmybestbut · 20/03/2025 20:06

The only time a school I work at has genuinely gone into lockdown was a father trying to kidnap his own child.

I believe it’s the Stockport stabbing tragedy that has prompted this new focus on lockdowns. It’s horrible but at least we’re not in the US sending kids into school with bullet proof backpacks.

Onelifeonly · 20/03/2025 20:06

Never had a lockdown drill during the life time in which I've worked in schools. My children never mentioned one when they were at school either - 4 different schools between them. So it's definitely not the practice everywhere.

viques · 20/03/2025 20:04

Eastie77Returns · 20/03/2025 19:51

DS has been at his current school for 3 years and we received a letter for the first time about their emergency lockdown drill a few months ago.

If, as several posters insist on stating, this drill has been in place for years/decades and I’ve been living under a rock as I didn’t know about it, why would the school only have sent a letter about it this year? It is very clear from the language used in the letter that it is a new policy.

The cynic in me says they are due an Ofsted in the near future and this is part of their safeguarding folder!

Tandora · 20/03/2025 20:04

witwatwoo · 20/03/2025 19:39

As previously said I’m in Southport. Your comments are completely out of touch and insulting to those of us who watched as 3 children were buried last summer

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These incidents are obviously tragic but incredibly rare. I can’t see any evidence that rolling out lockdown drills in schools is a) relevant, b) proportionate c) in anyway evidenced as shown to help/ mitigate this kind of risk.
There is , however, evidence that these drills can be psychologically harmful to kids.
It’s just more of this anti-terror hysteria we go in for these days. Nothing rational about it.

EdithBond · 20/03/2025 20:04

Eastie77Returns · 20/03/2025 19:51

DS has been at his current school for 3 years and we received a letter for the first time about their emergency lockdown drill a few months ago.

If, as several posters insist on stating, this drill has been in place for years/decades and I’ve been living under a rock as I didn’t know about it, why would the school only have sent a letter about it this year? It is very clear from the language used in the letter that it is a new policy.

It’s quite possibly linked to the Luton case, following a review.

Mnetcurious · 20/03/2025 20:04

Donotgogentle · 20/03/2025 18:24

DS’s school definitely doesn’t do lockdown drills.

Just fire drills and practises of what to do if a wild dog gets into the school.

Hate to break it to you but “wild dog” is a euphemism to make it less scary for the kids, so yes they do have them.

Tandora · 20/03/2025 20:00

echt · 20/03/2025 19:38

Yes. By me.

Unless you've been living under stone all your life, you'll know exactly what the connotations of the word are.

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Yes but it’s only an issue when directed at women. Otherwise it’s just a word.

Tandora · 20/03/2025 19:58

noblegiraffe · 20/03/2025 19:38

The govt suggestion is that lockdown drills in primary and younger are for staff only.

Kids are generally more resilient to this sort of thing than you seem to give them credit for though.

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The govt suggestion is that lockdown drills in primary and younger are for staff only.

👍🏻 well I’m glad to hear that

LetsGoFlyAKiteee · 20/03/2025 19:56

Nursery i work in do it. They don't hide under the tables we sit them down and barricade the doors and shut curtains etc.

School near me had someone climb onto the roof during police chase so they wouldve had to do a real one then

elliejjtiny · 20/03/2025 19:55

noblegiraffe · 20/03/2025 19:31

Unfortunately, 'child with knife' is also not an uncommon scenario.

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Yes, we've had that in my dc secondary school. Nobody had to hide under desks for that though. Also had an incident when a child threatened my son with a knife which turned out to be a fake one from the drama department.