Dangerous person in school?

[WhinnieThePoohHead]

I’ll preface this by saying I know it’s not a AIBU, I just want to use the voting option :)

Met Friends for dinner today. One friend, a teacher, mentioned that her school does ‘lockdown drills’ as well as fire drills. I asked what they’re for and she said in case someone dangerous gets into the primary school. They lock the classroom door, shut the blinds, turn the lights and screens off and hide under their desks silently. My friend told me that all schools do these drills the same way they do fire drills. this is in the U.K.

YABU- yes all schools do this, you’re out of touch
YANBU- schools in the U.K. don’t do lock down drills

If someone with a gun comes to the school it's going to be fairly easy to gain access... presumably most school offices aren't built of bullet proof glass.

Never heard of this.
I’ve worked in various schools for over 20 years.

You seriously haven't seen a school which is not "fenced in"? Our local primary is "fenced in" - by a 4 foot fence which was built c. 1970. Yes the doors are locked and you need buzzing in, but anyone could get into the playground. This is not unusual.

With many school just locking door and closing blinds etc and not going under tables they might not even realise it’s happening at the time.

You could casually ask staff at reception or the class teacher what their procedures are for invacuation.

Aberdeenshire also has a policy
www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/pupils-made-hide-under-desks-28900109.amp

I asked my p7 child and their school doesn't do this

I've just asked my son and he said he had this at primary but not yet in Yr 7.

it is compulsory, there is no wriggle room on this one

See the attached, think I would be more concerned by schools that don't do this!

www.nasuwt.org.uk/advice/health-safety/school-lockdown-procedures.html

Never heard of wire cutters? Implements that can cut through amongst other things, fences.

Well tonnes of schools aren't doing it.

Yes my kids school does it and they are told the reason.
Personally I found it very reassuring, the dangerous person could actually be a child's family member or someone they know. No one knows what truely goes on in other familie. With so many children in school (and staff) there is going to be a degree of risk. I'd rather have my children practice it. They actually found it fun!

I think it’s is quite unusual to have a school with a climbable / escapable fence? I know locally we have lots of listed and historic school buildings with low fencing and railings. In the last few years though, the local council have replaced them with all with tall fencing and extra security.
as well as the risk of people entering the school this way, there’s the safeguarding risk of children absconding/ things being passed over fences etc.

Not quite as you describe but yes drills to get pupils inside if something threatens safety outside so a horse o. The loose( rural school) or a gunman etc though we don’t say that to the children.

Could you point to the UK wide legislation on this?

My child's school practices lockdown drills. This is a small village primary school. I was told afterwards by my child and it is very clear that the children understand their role in this. I would like to think this will never be necessary but I think it is understandable that the school would take this action.

My children's school does this (secondary)

I work across two schools and both do lockdown drills.

Just asked Dh who's a primary teacher and says his school doesn't do it either. Maybe it's local authority dependent? Either way it's not in the schools my kids attend/ attended.

DofE instructions, and non-statuary guidance on how to carry this out:

this applies to:
• early years
• wraparound childcare and out of school settings
• children’s social care residential providers
• schools
• further education
• higher education
• SEND and specialist settings

Security-related incidents in schools and colleges
It is important for schools and colleges to have a policy and plan in place to manage and
respond to security-related incidents.
A school/college’s security policy should complement their safeguarding policy,
particularly where it puts in place measures to protect students; and address the threat of
serious violence. It should form part of your suite of policies to ensure the health, safety
and well-being of students and staff including in relation to the online environment.
Staff and students should be familiar with what is required by the school’s/college
security policy and plan. Senior staff should have an awareness of relevant security
networks and be able to evaluate and assess the impact of any new initiatives on your
security policy and its day-to-day operation.
School and college security is non-statutory guidance for schools and colleges that
covers a range of guidance and templates to help schools and colleges consider the risk
from a range of security related threats, including crime and terrorism.

Only had to do this once in a primary school but it was because it was an inner city school and there was gang confrontations nearby and at one point children on playground saw a man walking past with a gun.

DCs secondary school do this but I don't think my younger DCs primary does.

I teach and we do lockdown drills. Secondary school, once a year. So does my DC school.

We do a drill every term. The children think it's a fun game to hide in the hall as quickly and quietly as possible.

We did the same when I was at school in the 80's, but I was at school close to Broadmoor. We had to lockdown for real on more than one occasion.

kids did this in our village primary and in two different secondary schools in different towns in different counties - I think it’s standard and I support it .. though I’m not sure hiding under desks will help them lots it’s better than nothing . It helps to have a plan so I’m disappointed so many schools are hiding what it’s really for .

@Nimbostratus100
Department of Education - so it's relevant in England only, and not required by law.