School intruder training

[incognitoe]

DC12's school organised "intruder training", which involved an actor banging on windows and shouting and an alarm going off for around 40 mins, and the children being asked to close curtains of room, get under desks and stay silent for that time, teacher they were with apparently not knowing anything about it. Half the class were crying or not able to breath properly.

Has your school done this? Actor came and met them at the end of the "training" to tell them it was not real.

Thanks

My kids did it at secondary and primary but they were unbothered. They call it a school shooter drill even when there are more likely scenarios where it may be needed. Not heard of actors being used but I guess a member of staff trying each door would have the same effect. They'd heard of school shooters and lockdown drills in the US well before they did drills at their English school which may have helped maintain that it's not a big deal.

I've just asked my DD7 and she said they do lockdown drill which is under the table and locked classroom with blinds down. They also do lockout drill which is everyone out and led of grounds. These can't bother her as she's never mentioned them and seems to things they are about lose farm animals

Keep thinking about this.

I have no problem with the training, or any kind of safety training.

I am, however, horrified at the zero notice, and even the teacher knowing nothing about it.

Dangerous territory.

I would be taking this way, way further.

But you are assuming the intruder has a gun - in the UK that is very unlikely. Most likely either a parent kicking off, so children just need to be kept away from them (not a risk so much as a scary thing to witness), or worst case scenario somebody with a knife, and if there is a solid locked door between them and you, you are pretty safe. What you don’t want is children roaming the corridors and running into them.

You don't pick your bag up when it's a bomb threat, as you don't want to inadvertently take the bomb out with you to the evacuation point.

Yes, that was obviously to do with if you heard gunshots. I know that is, thankfully, incredibly unlikely.

@PurpleNebula84 the bomb was in another building

Really?
Surely a basic of a school is to have secure boundaries?

They don’t lock the gates until home time though people could just walk in to the school grounds in most schools.

Most schools my way are community campuses so they house local library, part time registrar, part time housing office, as well as a gym and a pool/ squash courts that are available for public use during the school day.

This is so wrong I would be so so angry. That's so traumatising. Imagine those that have escaped or are experiencing violence at home. I hope a lot of parents complain.

American who happens to work in a UK primary school here (England). Of course the UK needs intruder drills. You need slightly different ones (thankfully no need to teach children to zigzag as that's typically advice for shootings). Intrusions at primary level in this country are often sadly an estranged parent or someone with a specific child in mind. Sometimes it might be someone bent on doing something bigger, but locking down and hiding in place is still solid advice.

Secondary schools should probably have a different procedure as they have different potential dangers.

However! Holy shit the 40 minutes of terror described in the OP is uncalled for, especially if they've never even done a drill before.

Not me you were quoting but I already explained this upthread - no not all schools can have secure boundaries. We can't even add rails to the low stone wall surrounding the playground as the school is a listed building in a heritage area. We certainly wouldn't be allowed the 6ft green wire fencing you see around most schools.

@MumofSpud not a chance here. Scotland. All open boundaries, rights of way, public parks.

Are there no runners in Scotland schools? We had several children escape , police involvement etc even with gates and fences. Can't imagine the outcomes if there was nothing.

Scottish* schools sorry . Tired.

We do the lockdown drills. The children are told it’s because of a dangerous animal in the playground. We are very rural and it has happened recently- a dog who lives near the school and is a bit aggressive got in to the playground at lunchtime, so we locked down. The children now feel like the have a valid reason for it - although none of them have questioned why we hide under desks or in cupboards in case the dog sees us..!!