Lockdown drill

[mrsglowglow]

We've been informed that our school will in the next couple of days be having a lockdown drill. Is this the norm now in our primary schools? Have another child in high school and all trips to central London cancelled until further notice. The reality of the times.

I think it is a knee-jerk reaction, but an understandable one.

I freely admit I worry about that sort of incident happening in my school but I don't think we can really plan for it tbh and I think it will frighten children far more than necessary.

Yes the schools here have them too, better than the evacuation drills of children in the 40s

This isn't new - schools have been doing lockdown for a while. There can be all sorts of reasons why the children would need to come into school quickly. Most actual lockdowns are because of the threat of an angry parent.

No school I have ever taught in has had a lockdown drill and certainly not for an angry parent- we get at least 2 a week

We've been talking about this at my school for months, I'm sure the plan was that we'd have a loudhailer thing for us to alert people it was lockdown, however, the loudhailer has yet to arrive and I'm not certain it would work.

We've had this since, oooo, maybe Paris?

The kids know to hide low in classrooms, lock doors, keep quiet, etc. They aren't remotely freaked out by it.

It does make sense to have a plan. My child is almost at the end of primary and i feel lucky that they went through their early years blissfully unaware of possible danger in school other than fire.

When I was in primary school in the 1970s/early 80s we used to have a "bomb scare" drill which was exactly the same as a fire drill except we had to go right to the back of the field as far as possible from the building. I don't remember being remotely frightened. In fact it was years later that I realised the implications of what they were trying to protect us from (IRA attacks).

Maybe it's different now that kids have such easy access to the news and possibly understand more about the bad things that could happen. But if it's handled well by the staff it needn't frighten them, and it might just keep them safe if the worst should happen.

I'm at a large inner city primary school, we've had invacuation and lock down drills for some time now.

We are in a little town and have a lockdown drill once a year. Never know what's gonna happen

Since Dunblane many schools have lockdown procedures.Certainly had them in schools I've worked in.

Our school has been told this week by the powers that be that we need to come up with a lock down policy. We've had to try and come up with a of signalling that the school is in lockdown. Going to need a new alarm and all sorts. No plans for a drill yet though thank god.

Yes, the school I work in has introduced a lockdown plan this week.

I've been teaching for 14 years and have never had to do a lockdown drill.

I live abroad and cant remember a time when we didnt have lock down drills for various reasons ranging from the VIP children in the school to the sad reality of the times we live in.

My DD had one at secondary school last week. She said the siren sounds different to the fire alarm (very high pitch). They hid under tables, pulled down blinds and locked doors.

DD is in year 8 now ( school is 6mths to 18) they have been having lockdown drills since reception.

Been a teacher for a while and never known one to happen anywhere. Never heard anyone even discuss it outside of the US.

In the US they do this because of active shooters which we haven't had here in the UK (touch wood) so I'm not sure what this would achieve.

My DC preschool and primary school have had one for a few years. They explain it to the younger children by saying that there might be pollution of fumes which would mean we would need to stay inside. And the older ones understand that it might be because they need protecting from someone outside. They don't practise them as regularly as fire drills and my DC remain un-traumatised!

I think it's important that as they get older they are as familiar with the Run Hide Tell message as they are Get Out Stay Out Call Out for fires.

I think it's an incredibly sensible idea and I think all schools should adopt a policy of lock down drills.

In the US they do this because of active shooters which we haven't had here in the UK (touch wood) so I'm not sure what this would achieve

We dont have active shooters where I live either and surely events of the last few weeks illustrate guns are not needed for an attack.

But more to the point an attack on a school can come in all shapes and sizes which is why for my grandchildren school no one can get in unless they have a prior appt or they are named person who can enter to drop off or collect children. We have to wear an ID tag round our neck and it has the name of the children you are allowed to collect. If names and children don't match up you cant take the children.

. I don't remember being remotely frightened. In fact it was years later that I realised the implications of what they were trying to protect us from (IRA attacks).

Same here.

Ideally it will be presented to the children as an "emergency drill" and left non-specific. Those that can work it out hopefully won't go on too much. Small children really don't need those ideas and possibilities spelt out to them.

My niece who is at school in Japan told us years ago that they have these regularly. I am not aware of any spree killers there.

Eminently sensible idea in my opinion.

My friends school has just had a lockdown drill. They were told to pull the window blinds down ( they haven't got window blinds) , lock the door ( no lock on the door) and hide behind the curtains .

Our local schools have been doing lock down drills for last 2 years.