Security of primary school site - advice

[CoronationWigeon]

My DD starts in Reception at the local primary school this September. I was surprised to see that the main gate into the playground (which is the main entrance to the school) is not on a buzzer - you just lift the latch and go in. It's not locked during the school day either. The latch is too high and heavy for the children to open, but any adult can open it.

When I was there recently, it was a hot day, and several of the classroom doors were wide open, opening directly onto the playground, so in theory a stranger could walk straight into the playground and into the school building itself. Even when the doors to the actual building are closed, a stranger could walk in the playground and right up to the building.

Is this normal? The other schools we visited all had a buzzer system where you had to ring to be let in (when it wasn't start / end of the school day). Does Ofsted have any particular requirements here?

I was particularly because I know another nearby school has recently just changed various things to do with its three entrances / exits in order to make it more secure, and they are all already on a buzzer.

I live in a rural area and none of the primary schools round here have the kind of security you describe. In fact I have never come across school gates that are locked all day.

The gates on the 2 entrances to playground are locked at 9am and opened at 3.15pm. All access to school during day is via main office, which has security/coded doors. Only staff/governors know code. Other people have to be buzzed in.

This is t dcs school - some classrooms have open doors to playground/field so gates are locked. I know other local schools that don't have this set up - because have integral preschool with parents coming to drop off and pick up at times duri g the day. Our pre school is in separate building with its own fencing and locked gates.

It would worry me a little, if I felt that there was unrestricted access to playground/school site during the day. I mean, lots of the classes have sports or pe in the playground, and at the school dc1 went to preschool, the preschool parents would be walking through on-going pe lessons in playground to get to the preschool which was not only disruptive, but potentially unsafe IMO.

Ofsted are not looking for a fortress but they are still looking for a school that has reasonable security for the children who are in their care during the day.
What you describe would certainly not fit with any definition of secure I have seen, even allowing for the open day

The security isn't just to stop randoms wandering into the school unannounced. It is stop small children doing a runner.

i would expect playground gates not to be easily opened by a child but ok by adult.
i wouldnt normaly expect a buzzer system on playground gates.
im not so worried about classroom fire exits being open as teachers will be in the class but for various reasons better to have windows that open adaquatly,
I would expect doors into school to be on a buzzer/ intercom,
but personal experience of a small country school is they have few windos that open and opening the front door is the only way to get air in the building.

I much preferred school before we had the security as I have various legitimate reasons to go in and out.

Small school, no full time admin, so buzzer goes unanswered.

Quite often it's one of the DCs who let you in, so they all know how to escape!

I would hate our school to be buzzer only on the gate. We are urban, right on road site. Gate has high bolt, only Y6 could reach it. Gate bolted but not locked during the day. Can't get into either building without buzzing.

I have never walked past the school and not seen someone in the playground, kids, staff, visitors, people on their way form one building to the other. Just seems to be really busy, and so stranger would be spotted. Also has CCTV cameras.
The nursery is on site at the back of the site, so we all cross the playground for nursery pick up too.

I am happy with it, as I hate the feeling of schools which are like a fortress.

Agree that Fortress School is bad, but not sure about Totally Open to Anyone School either. Was there again today for a session for new Reception starters: all classroom doors wide open into the playground, directly opposite, and a short distance from, the main gate.

I'm sure that my Reception age DD wouldn't be able to escape, at least. Think the Y2s might be able to though (is an infants' school).

I am hardly going to start off on the right foot with the school though if before DD has even started I am raising this kind of issue!

Well, you absolutely should. If something ever happened, you would never forgive yourself and your child is attending this school that you naturally trust that they will care for him/her in the best possible way, so safety, of course, is of paramount concern.

I think you should just say: "I'm feeling a little nervous about XXX, would you mind just putting my mind at ease, about how secure they are etc" Could there ever be a situation where XXXXX?".

Really important to raise it, as it may be something that others have thought, but not acted upon. Peace of mind is very important and it is a more than reasonable concern, I'm sure they will be very pleased that a parent has noticed things like this and is raising them....

Good luck

Sorry, Fortress school is good with me. .

as a parent of 2 children the same age as the dunblane children, i think you are right. you dont want to be over dramatic, but i will never forget that day of driving through a carpark with the radio on and hearing that awful news that someone had walked into a school and commited this crime. No amount of security would have prevented it, but the following day all outside handles were removed from every door of my childrens school classes because it had happened, i now have small children again and am pleased my school has a buzzer and fence making visitors only having access to the office. I never think this type of crime will happen again, but i do know a mum who lives in fear of her ex turning up and taking her children. this cant happen as he would have to go via the office. i too dont want the children to be in a prison, but expect the same amount of security for them as my husbands work gives the beer kegs in the warehouse.

Our school isn't like a fortress. But it is secure and safe.

It's not so much the idea of incident like Dunblane that concerns me. More that the children deserve to be safe and the school knowing who is in school is very important - thinking about safeguarding issues relating to abusive parents, kids in care and so on.

i do agree, i dont think it will happen again, but that is what triggered schools into looking into how schools keep children safe now. i think you are right, we need a balance, and sometimes we forget the obvious of keeping doors shut. my friends little girl made the front page of the local paper for walking home during the lunch hour. she was fine, but like you say, you expect the school to be at least as safe as your own house!

Ok, I have emailed the Head about it, in a very friendly, non-confrontational way. Am really rather since DD (PFB) hasn't even started Reception; I am already one of Those parents .