to worry about my dd's school security or lack of it

[sheepgomeep]

im fully prepared to accept iabu but it is something that concerns me

the main entrance door by the secretary's office is often left on the catch so anyone can walk in, the excuse is given that the secretary has a clear view of this door but she often goes out of the office to do errands etc so this leaves the school vulnerable imo

the junior door at the back of the school is always left open, there is no secretary or teacher there in view so very easy to get in or out. Also easy to walk round the back and off the playing fields without being seen.

A gate catch to the infant yard is broken, making it easy for a child to slip out unnoticed at playtime you would think that a teacher would stay by the gate at all times during play but no i didnt notice this this morning when i dropped dd2 off as they play outside in the morning bfore reg.

so aibu? thier last school was like fort knox to get into.

That sounds very unusual.

Is it a small village school?

Have you expressed your concerns?

Our school (Australia) is completely open. You can walk in and out ay time you like. The grounds are open too. There is a gate of course but it's not locked and the back of the school opens out on to open bush land. I was a bit at first, but I am used to it now and I like it. It makes the world feel like a more secure place overall. Nobody is thinking someone is going to burst in and shoot people. The children don't run away.

i often wonder what goes through children's heads when they are going to/coming from school and they have to navigate all these locked doors and gates to get to their classroom. it must occur to them that something/someone scary must be around their school for them to have to be locked in their classrooms.

anyway, speak to the head and see if there are plans to rectify the broken lock and put locks on the entrance doors.

It is a village school but not very small no. I have mentioned this to the headmistress but I get nowhere, the secretary just nods her head and looks through you and acts patronisingly 'theres really no need to worry miss sheep i am always here'

can i take this further as I dont think the school are taking secuurity seriously.

a child did escape though about a year ago but she was in year five

It depnds on whether the head thought that you were just making a comment or had actualconcerns.

I would put those concerns to her and make it plain that you are not happy with how things are.

Perhaps put it to the governers?

What is the Ofstead report like, are you in the UK?

Well then things should have changed when the child got out.

At least the locks that are on the gates/doors shouldn't be broken and should be used.

You can make your concerns known the the LEA.

oftstead results are good, it is a very good primary school, been brilliant with ds but having some bullying issues with dd1 there at the mo but thats beside the point. yes we are in the uk.

see, this is the only school in my area that Ive had issues over security with. my sd's many primary schools had very strict outdoor door policies etc

i will definately talk to the lea birds, i think its the junior door that worries me the most

You can raise concerns with Ofsted directly and they will most likely instruct the LEA to investigate Safeguarding at the school. This will likely involve a safeguarding inspection by an LEA officer who will then report back to Ofsted their findings. They will notify the school in advance that they are coming and so I would imagine that on inspection day you will find that gates/doors are locked and broken locks are fixed. If you are really concerned I would go back to the headteacher again first and mention that you are concerned and know that Ofsted are hot on safeguarding and that you really don't want to go down the path of reporting to them but if that's what it will take for the school to make improvements then...

I wouldn't over panic though, I personally think that safeguarding can go a bit too far at times and the school probably do have a handle on things. Your other option I suppose is to look at other schools?

I don't think you are overreacting, and if the school have ignored your comments I'd write to the governors with a list of your concerns. I'd also point out that if they don't sort it out, you'll take it to the LEA.
My child has additional needs, so school security was an issue I considered quite carefully. Less for the intruder in school and far more in that he'd disappear into the nearest park or woodland wherever possible.
They are failing to safeguard and being complacent. Give them a metaphorical kick up the arse.

My sons primary also has a gate off the playground onto a very very busy main road and footpath. It is often left open. It worries me tbh and ive just sent an email about it.

However, no-one can actually get in the school building without being 'let' in.

Well I heard about a school in Belgium where the road past it just merges into the playground. I think we over think things like Dunblane, which happen rarely here, let's tighten gun laws, rather than put kids in prison.

Dunblane wouldn't have happened if Thomas hamilton had been unable to gain entry to the school. Yes these terrible tragedies are rare but they still happen and I would rather leave my children in a place where they will be safe and secure. Its also not just people can get in a child could also get out and go missing which is what happened.

I don't feel our schools are prisons in the slightest and I agree that gun laws should be tightened but a weapon such as a knife or hammer etc could be used and that happened didn't it to Lisa potts with those nuRSery children not long after dunblane.

I get so cross when people don't take security in schools seriously. To get into ds's school outside drop off/pick up, you have to be buzzed into the grounds by the receptionist, and show your parents card, via the intercom screen, and then go and sign in.

The bottom line is that if a school is insecure, anyone could walk in and leave a rucksack packed with explosives lying around. You may remember there was an incident in Liege late last year where someone ran amok and shot people attending a Christmas market...imagine him getting into a school? As for tightening gun laws, sure, but don't please kid yourself that it would be legally held weapons used.

I would suggest you write saying that you do not expect Fort Knox style levels of security but have obsereved some possible weaknesses in school entry security and list the concerns you have set out above. Send it to the HT and copy the Chair of Govs and the Governor with responsibility for the Safeguarding Audit. If you don't know who that is just use that title. A Safeguarding Audit has to be carried out annually. Offer to meet with them and do a walk round school in school hours if possible to see where access might be gained/child leave without any check in place.

That is odd.

At my daughter's school all children go in main gates. These are padlocked shut at 9am every day by the head teacher or deputy head.

That means the children have no way of getting out of school grounds in the day and no-one can get in. They are unlocked at 3pm ready for parents to arrive to collect the children.

For office/reception area people can go into the waiting area. But the door into the school and the door into dining room are coded locked so no-one can enter unless they have the code or are buzzed in by reception.

I would raise concerns too, ESP about younger children getting out. Sounds like you need to go above head to LEA etc now as they don't seem to be concerned. Would a word to community police be any help perhaps? I'm sure they would rather prevent a tragedy than have to clear up the after effects.

How about this headline from local paper.
The school is a community college too but I never realised security was so lax
www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-evening-news/thief-hid-in-school-changing-rooms-and-stole-18-phones-1-2172035
btw the picture they have is the newspaper isnt the school in question