School Security Award

sponsored by resource group
Recognising the UK school that has made outstanding efforts to increase security through a combination of increased awareness in staff and pupils and the procurement and installation of additional security measures such as CCTV, fencing, manned guarding etc.

2011 Winner: Dinnington Community Primary School, Sheffield

Pupils at Dinnington Primary feel safe in school according to parents and carers in an Ofsted report in September 2011, which is positive considering the measures to increase security previously, and is testimony to their determination to build an achieving school. They took precautionary measures to protect its students by installing 15 CCTV cameras in May 2011 to cover its grounds in May after months of trouble from trespassers and vandals that required a police presence.  That assistance, the security system and help from the local community is enabling staff to get control of a problem that includes burglaries and extensive damage to school property – some alleged to involve school pupils. CCTV is identifying culprits and parents are alerted. School staff are tackling the offenders with appropriate actions, essential since they are making headway restoring the school to the whole community as the best possible start in life for pupils.

Commended

St. Edwards School, Oxford
St Edward’s has a majority boarder student population, so their safety is a fundamental concern for staff. Protecting pupils, their possessions, and its premises and equipment is a continuously serious responsibility. In 2001 an initial access control system was installed and four years later, an upgraded network provided more flexible access to staff and students. Technical challenges included how to grant authorised users access during designated daytime hours, while restricting access to specified staff at night – also restricting students after curfew.  A centrally-managed access control system, installed on the school’s existing IT network, allows for expansion to include doors in other buildings. Versatility enables cleaners’ access only during their designated working period.
Upgraded fire protection was provided in one of the boys’ boarding houses, and disabled access incorporated in some accommodation blocks. Others were installed with automated doors and access control pads at heights compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act.

Foremarke Hall - Repton Preparatory School, Derbyshire
Foremarke Hall’s ability to provide a happy, purposeful environment, where students – day and boarders – blossom and grow as a ‘school family’, is underpinned by vigilant safety awareness commensurate with a vast historic 54-acre site. The school delivers a mix of the latest security technology through both the established full-site Access Control used to prevent unauthorised entry and CCTV systems, with access to the economical high performing network, is set on a 24/7 basis. With huge grounds, listed buildings and public right of way, specifying and installing the correct technology was a technical challenge. For instance, it was necessary to solve how to transmit images to the main school building from cameras situated across the road. Staff are active, knowledgeable and take appropriate action to protect boarders from any potential harm, making them feel secure. The school has 100 percent coded locking of all school blocks and undertakes regular risk assessments.