Lincoln Minster School Security Policy Statement Security plays a vital role in ensuring the effective management of Lincoln Minster School, which is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all pupils, staff and visitors. Good security management is about being proactive rather than reactive. The emphasis should be on prevention rather than detection. Security is not just about choosing the right control measures, but an attitude of mind. All school staff, teaching and non-teaching, must be familiar with security procedures, take responsibility for their own and others security, and report any concerns immediately to the relevant site manager or a member of the SLT. Common security issues include: Personal safety of staff, pupils and visitors to school premises Burglary Arson Vandalism Intrusion to school premises Lincoln Minster School seeks to implement this policy through adherence to the procedures set out in the rest of this document. This policy applies to all members of our school community, including boarders and those in our EYFS setting. It is available on the school network and to all interested parties on request from the school offices and should be read in conjunction with the following policies: Health and Safety, Lone Worker, Child Protection, Supervision, Risk. This document is reviewed annually or as events or legislation change requires by the Health and Safety Coordinator Reviewed: Paul Carmichael, June 2015 Next review due: June 2016 LMS_Security_260615 Page 1 of 6
Procedures 1. Monitoring and Review As part of its remit the Health and Safety Committee ensures that an independent security audit is carried out biennially. This is held by the Health and Safety Coordinator. A risk assessment on security is also carried out on an annual basis. Security is a standing item on the Health & Safety Committee agenda and is discussed in the monthly meetings. External Security Security of LMS starts at the perimeter and then moves to internal security. Efficient access control measures are a priority for daytime security of the school and the personal safety of all users. Effective signage, directional signs indicating the location of exit route that visitors should follow to the school reception/office are in place. There is one main entrance to the Senior School and to the Preparatory School buildings for visitors. At the Pre-Preparatory and EYFS site access for visitors is from Winnowsty Lane. For morning clubs and after school clubs, access is via the Cottage at the corner of Wragby Road. All doors leading to school buildings incorporate a suitable access control system eg. a digital coded door lock. Outside normal hours a combination of perimeter fencing, CCTV and intruder alarm systems are in place to minimise crime and anti-social behaviour. Appropriate perimeter fencing has been installed. All gates are locked at night with the exception of the drive gates to Hillside Boarding, to allow access to emergency vehicles. Vehicle Security Car parking is restricted to designated car park areas. The area is well lit. Signage Directional signs are in place indicating the location of the route visitors should follow to the school reception point. Signage informing of the presence of an alarm system and CCTV is in place. All property of value is marked. Security Lighting Security lighting is in place and is regularly checked. Windows and External Doors The main entrance doors have a variety of access control measures-remote electronic lock release devices, intercom, digital pads, visual verification. LMS_Security_260615 Page 2 of 6
All windows are checked regularly to ensure the locking mechanism is working. All buildings built since 2004 have doors and windows which comply with the British standard and all ground floor windows throughout the school are lockable. Security blinds at Lindum View Boarding House have been installed due to its very close proximity to a very busy road. Intruder Alarms All main school buildings and boarding houses have an intruder alarm which is regularly maintained. Dogs In the interests of the health and safety of our pupils, dogs, with the exception of assistance dogs, are not permitted on the Senior, Preparatory or Pre-Preparatory sites. 2. Internal Security School Offices/Reception - Access Control Good access control is the matrix to the security for any school during the school day. Procedures are in place to ensure that, as far as is reasonably practicable, no one is able to access the school buildings unacknowledged and that once in the building, systems are in place to protect pupils and staff. Access control measures include: One entrance to the senior school building via the office/reception for visitors. There is a good staff presence at the Preparatory and Pre-Preparatory sites at the start and end of day. Clear directional signs indicating the location of offices to visitors All visitors, including school Local Governing Body members, must initially report to the school office/ reception, where the purpose of their visit can be established prior to them signing in the visitors book and being issued with a visitor s badge, valid only on the day of issue. Visitors to the school are not allowed to wander about the school unaccompanied. Any visitors not displaying a visitor s badge are approached by staff and directed to reception. Pupils and staff are frequently reminded to be vigilant. For child protection purposes, visitors to the school, including parents, are asked not to use cameras or other video recording equipment when on school property or at school events held elsewhere. Where exceptions may sometimes be allowed, for example when watching drama or sport, this will be made clear by the member of staff responsible for that activity. In those exceptions any recordings must only be made available to family and friends, and must not be uploaded to social media sites. Daytime Security of Vulnerable Offices/Rooms: Offices, staff rooms, ICT suites and store rooms etc, within a school require additional security measures to protect against the casual walk in thief whether the offender is a stranger to the school or otherwise. Where appropriate, access is restricted to a few named key-holders. Examples of vulnerable items include laptop computers, mobile phones, computer peripherals, software, CDs or DVDs, musical instruments, wallets, purses, bags, information and any other items that can be easily carried and concealed. Pupils are regularly reminded and encouraged to LMS_Security_260615 Page 3 of 6
exercise personal responsibility for their belongings and discouraged from bringing to school any valuable items. Classrooms are locked whenever possible, particularly at the end of the school day. Computer Security: Information Technology plays an ever increasing role in the education of the young and the administration of schools. Digital projectors, laptops, flat screen monitors, plasma screens are target items for burglars. The security of these is regularly reviewed. All ICT equipment is marked. Conclusion All Lincoln Minster School employees and pupils (to a degree appropriate to their age) share a responsibility for implementing security procedures and reporting any breaches or failings of security to an appropriate member of staff. The documents used to write this policy included: www.dfes.gov.uk/schoolsecurity/ www.securedbydesign.com/pdfs/schools.pdf DFES Publication Improving Security in Schools Appendix Security Risk Assessments SECURITY ISSUES AT THE PREPARATORY SCHOOL AND PRE-PREPARATORY SCHOOL, INCLUDING EYFS, AND ASSOCIATED RISKS The major purpose of this risk assessment is to identify the potential for unwanted visitors and to control any of these persons accessing the sites and buildings. The main entrance for the Pre-Preparatory School (including EYFS) is located on Winnowsty Lane, just off Wragby Road. Access to the school is via a locked door and visitors have to use a bell and wait to be admitted. Outside the main building there are designated parking bays. There is some risk when moving from parked cars to the school - parents are reminded to keep their children close to them. All visitors are asked to sign in and collect a badge. The main residual risk comprises piggy backing when parents come in, but all children remain with their class teachers until collected by parents/guardians. LMS promotes a culture of friendly challenge. No one must put themselves at risk. If in doubt, withdraw and call 999. The Preparatory School site is located on Church Lane within a residential area. Although the school building itself is well secured, the grounds are not secure, as they accessed via a shared drive which is not gated. The school consists of 3 buildings which are linked; the main house, which contains school office and reception, as well as a hall/dining room and classrooms, the stable block comprising the science lab, art/dt and a new extension of classrooms and kitchen and servery. The main doors into the buildings are controlled by coded security locks. Codes are changed annually. Visitors, including parents and children report to Reception (via sliding glass LMS_Security_260615 Page 4 of 6
screen) to gain access. All visitors are asked to sign in and collect a badge. The main residual risk comprises piggy backing when parents come in but a member of staff is allocated to be in the entrance hall at peak times in the morning and at the end of school. The new extension and stable block have emergency exit doors which can be opened from the inside only. The rear fire door from the main building has digi-lock access. Staff parking is located in the courtyard area outside the stable block. Staff are permitted to park in this area prior to 7.45 a.m. and after 8.05 a.m. Parking is prohibited between those times due to pupils and parents entering school. Staff are prohibited to leave this area until after 4.30 p.m. SECURITY ISSUES AT SENIOR SCHOOL AND ASSOCIATED RISKS The major purpose of this risk assessment is to identify the potential for unwanted visitors and to control any of these persons accessing the sites and buildings. The Senior School is divided into two sites (the old side also contains a boarding house for Sixth Form boys) on Upper Lindum Street which is a busy residential road The School has some insecure perimeters, in particular around Watkins Hall and Hillside boarding house, which make it vulnerable to trespass. Intruders are able to gain easy access to these grounds, particularly at night and at weekends, which increases the risk of forced entry into those building which are not alarmed. More deterrent measures are being considered to minimise the risk of intrusion. Parking is allowed roadside only from 6pm 8am. Reception is well signed. Five sets of pedestrian gates are regularly open from 6am 7pm (later closing times for events), and at weekends for boarders access. After 7pm all gates are locked except the old site drive gates which are pulled to, allowing access/exit by emergency vehicles. In addition to pedestrians a small number of parked cars are allowed on the new site. Vehicular movement is not allowed during playtimes however residual risk will still remain because pupils access the area during lesson changes. Speed limit signs are posted adjacent to the gate. Staff and limited visitor car parking (46 vehicles) is provided at the old site. The speed limit is 4mph. Because of lack of space vehicle movement has to be slow, but residual risk remains. Staff cars must display a permit. All visitors are required to sign in and out and provide their registration numbers. Pupils and staff are provided with written advice on how to cross the road safely, and pupils are regularly reminded of this in form time. The increased presence of staff at the start and end of day and demarcation for vehicles and pedestrians, in addition to physical barriers, has improved safety for pupils, staff and visitors accessing the Prior Building. The School must continue to pressurise the Council to provide pedestrian safety measures. Doors into the Prior Building, Watkins Hall and Harper Music School and Sports Hall are controlled by security locks. Codes are only changed annually. The external door to Reception is secure and visitors ring a buzzer to gain entrance. The visitor toilet is outside the reception area and access to the School itself is not security locked, except at the beginning and end of the day, when there is no staff in reception. The main residual risk comprises piggy backing. External lighting is good. LMS_Security_260615 Page 5 of 6
Staff have been provided with Lincoln Minster School lanyards and are expected to wear them at all times on site. LMS promotes a culture of friendly challenge. No one must put themselves at risk. If in doubt, withdraw and call 999. BOARDING All Boarding Houses have a key pad and pupils and staff are reminded to be vigilant at all times. The key pad codes for boarding houses are changed annually. Eastgate House has loose perimeters, although gates will be installed in 2015-16, improving security. LMS_Security_260615 Page 6 of 6