Ways to Improve School Safety

When parents send their children to school, they want to be sure that they are in a safe, nurturing environment where they are cared for and supported. Schools have a duty of care to protect their students and staff against violence, vandalism, theft and other criminal activity, and must have the necessary measures in place to demonstrate suitable safeguarding as per Ofsted guidance. 

With many different security options available for schools, this article will help you navigate your way through so you can find the most suitable school security solution.

1. Visitor management / access control

Gone are the days of manually locking and unlocking doors throughout a school using a big bunch of caretaker keys, or using a log book at reception for visitors to sign in. Advances in technology have meant that access control systems put a stop to any unauthorised entry into buildings, with Ofsted inspectors expecting to see an ID system to differentiate between approved and unapproved visitors.

Access control systems show who is coming and going from the premises at any given time so there is a record of any visitors wanting to gain access to the school. These systems include – but are not limited to – the following:

– Access cards

– ID cards

– Basic intercom systems

– Biometric readers

2. Internal CCTV 

Sophisticated surveillance and CCTV systems enable schools to monitor exactly who is entering and leaving the premises. If unlawful activity occurs outside school hours, recorded CCTV footage is proven to help identify the offender and can be used as police evidence. 

3. External CCTV 

There is also the added benefit of helping to tackle truancy by recording any students leaving the grounds during lesson time.

Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) has been utilised by many schools as a safety measure to capture any dangerous driving on or around the school premises and identify the perpetrators. It can also be used to check if a vehicle is unregistered or unlicensed to flag any suspicious or illegal activity. 

4. Gates and barriers

Security gates and barriers are a highly effective way of protecting school premises, as they restrict vehicle access and deter intruders from entering the grounds. 

Does your school already have gates in place that need upgrading to include automation?

Or perhaps you need to have your entire fencing replaced with modern security gates and vehicle barriers?

Whatever you require, there are plenty of options available so that your school, students and staff members are kept safe. CCTV and door entry intercom systems can even be integrated into the gates and barriers so you can have complete control over who is on the premises.

5. Lockdown Alarms

Do you have a school lockdown procedure? If not, then your staff and pupils could be left vulnerable in the event of an emergency, so you’re advised to implement one as quickly as possible. 

You may not see the need for a lockdown alarm – surely you could just alert everyone inside the building using the fire alarm? However, having a separate lockdown alarm system specifically for this type of situation ensures that threats can be correctly responded to. This prevents panic and effectively communicates the kind of emergency so that building occupants can take the most appropriate action. For instance, upon hearing a fire alarm, our instinct is to evacuate the building, but this could actually put individuals in harm’s way during a lockdown.

Here at Astra Security, we can supply and install an ALERTEX lockdown alarm system to ensure you can seamlessly manage incidents like this. This product offers a huge range of benefits for any school, including:

• It can be remotely monitored from anywhere using the PC app
• Quick and convenient to install, an ALERTEX alarm is completely wireless and will secure your school in no time
• Even the largest schools can be protected, with up to 64 units per site
• Boasting a battery life of two years, it requires very little maintenance
• With over 32 alerts to choose from, you can program your ALERTEX alarm to incorporate a distinct alarm sound or a custom spoken message

How to Secure Your School Over the Summer Holidays

Statistics show that schools are much more vulnerable to a break-in during the long summer months when the premises are left unoccupied. Securing a school over this period is naturally a little more complicated, but there are several steps you can take in addition to the security measures mentioned above.

Burglar alarms: From staff meetings to after-school clubs, there will often be people milling about the premises after the school day is over. Naturally, this makes burglar alarms slightly impractical as the chance of them being accidentally set off is high. However, during the holidays when your premises will largely be left unattended, burglar alarms are a great way to deter intruders. 

Should someone break into your school premises, a burglar alarm system will detect this movement and automatically sound a loud alarm to alert those nearby. Here at Astra Security Systems, we can offer third-party monitoring through an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC). This speeds up police response by informing the emergency services as soon as forced entry is detected. We can even offer regular burglar alarm maintenance and servicing to ensure your system remains in top condition over the summer months.

Upgraded CCTV: As mentioned above, CCTV systems can help you to monitor who is entering and exiting your premises. However, during the holidays, there won’t always be someone on-site to review this footage. Here at Astra Security, we offer top-of-the-range CCTV cameras that can be accessed via a smartphone. This means you can receive notifications if any suspicious activity is detected and remotely check the live feed or recordings, no matter where you are. If you’re looking to upgrade your CCTV system in time for the school holidays, we’re always happy to talk through your options.

Security review: With the summer holidays fast approaching, now is the perfect time to perform a security review of your school. With this in mind, why not get in touch with a trusted security professional like Astra Security Systems? We can identify any weaknesses in your current security system and make the necessary upgrades to ensure your school can handle any security threats over the summer. 

How To Choose A Trusted Security Company

When you’re choosing a security company to help secure your school, there are some key things you’ll need to look out for:

• Experience: A security company that has been in business for a while will have the experience and expertise to handle even the most complex school layouts. Here at Astra Security, we’ve been operating across the South East since 1979.

• Accreditations: Accreditations offer extra peace of mind and ensure that your chosen security company is recognised by leading industry bodies. Here at Astra Security, we’re a member of the SSAIB and the Master Locksmiths Association.

• Vetting: There are very specific requirements for who is allowed to enter a school. Here at Astra, every team member is fully DBS-checked and comprehensively vetted for your peace of mind.

If you are looking to update the security measures at your school premises over the summer holidays, look no further than Astra Security. We provide a comprehensive range of services tailored to meet the individual needs of your school premises, including access control, CCTV, ANPR, gates and barriers, and much more! Contact us to discuss your requirements and make your school safer today.