SCHOOL SECURITY

School security is routinely reviewed by the school’s Health and Safety Committee and the Leadership Group.  Whilst formal responsibility rests with the Governors’ Premises Committee, the Site Management team is responsible for monitoring day-to-day security and implementing improvements.

The school’s Health and Safety Committee meets every half-term to monitor and review health and safety in relation to both students and staff and the minutes of the meetings are subsequently reviewed by the   Personnel and Premises Committees.  Room and activity risk assessments are conducted by Heads of Departments and these contribute to ensuring that a safe working environment is maintained for all students and staff.

Considerable progress has been made during the year with the expansion of the computerised door security system.  All external doors to the school are now linked into the new system and access is limited by the Smart cards issued to all staff and pupils. The system ensures that there is no unauthorized access into the school outside normal school hours and has also recently been extended to some of the internal science laboratory doors.  As the physical size of the school has increased, the door control system has significantly increased security at the end of the school day when girls may still be on site taking part in clubs and other activities.

The school’s existing CCTV surveillance was further expanded during the year and the old tape recording media was replaced by a digital computerised data storage system.  The new system provides greatly enhanced images that are much easier to review.

The school is required to conduct a termly fire drill to ensure that the school can be evacuated quickly in an emergency.  Evacuations are carefully monitored to ensure that staff and students are able to leave the building efficiently and safely.   During the year, improvements were undertaken to the procedures to further improve the ease with which the school can be evacuated.

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