Security measures on school sites are a lottery which is leaving the safety of pupils and school staff to chance, members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union, are to warn.
Representatives attending the Union’s Scotland Annual Conference today (Saturday) in Glasgow will highlight a failure to maintain security measures in schools implemented following the Dunblane massacre nearly 30 years ago.
Members will raise concerns that security arrangements have been reduced in some schools and measures to control access to school buildings are no longer strictly applied.
They will call for the Scottish Government to commit to provide consistent standards of school safety and security for staff and pupils across Scotland by providing the necessary resources to help protect every school site from intruders or attacks.
Matt Wrack, NASUWT Acting General Secretary, said:
“We must never forget the horrific events which took place in Dunblane in 1996 in which 16 pupils and their teacher died and 15 others were injured, nor the collective desire to work collaboratively thereafter to ensure that tragedy could never happen again
“The Cullen Inquiry at the time recognised that those who have the legal responsibility for the health and safety of the teaching staff and pupils in schools should prepare a safety strategy for the protection of the school population against violence, together with an action plan for implementing and monitoring the effectiveness of safety measures appropriate to the particular school.
Sadly other attacks and attempted attacks on staff and pupils on school sites in the UK have taken place in recent years and teachers report approaches to school security have not been consistently maintained.
“There is no place for complacency when it comes to school security. Guidance should be developed in partnership with industry experts and trade unions to ensure all schools are aware of their obligations and responsibilities on safety and that they are taking adequate steps to address the risks.
Mike Corbett, NASUWT Scotland National Official, said:
“When parents send their children to school and staff go to work they should have the right to expect a consistent experience in terms of safety and security.
“However, the current picture across the country varies considerably, often due to the age of the school building, the availability of resources for school maintenance and the adherence of employers to safety guidance.
“The safety and security of children and the school workforce should not be a matter of chance. Every school should have statutory security standards they are required to meet and everyone working or learning on school sites should have a clear understanding of the protections that are in place and what they should do in the event of an incident.
“This is not about turning schools into fortresses, but putting in place proportionate measures to ensure security is not compromised.”
