This document is written with the intent of applying procedures that address the safety risks pertaining to students, buildings and facilities.  It will refer to emergencies procedures that are needed to ensure the safety of all personnel on the premises of the Gallipoli Campus. These will include both evacuation and lockdown procedures.

 

The school will apply security measures to protect school property and ensure a safe environment for its students. We’re mindful of the impact of security breaches and associated vandalism, arson and theft that can severely disrupt the normal daily routine of the school, adversely affecting student outcomes, places stress and tension on all the teachers and staff, and often results in the loss of valuable and irreplaceable personal resources, teaching materials and students’ work.

 

A variety of approaches are needed for the implementation of effective security. A range of strategies to help manage security risks are outlined in this document.

 

The School is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for both students and staff which:

• Minimises the risk of harm and ensures all members of the school community feel safe and secure.

• Supports the physical, social, academic, spiritual and emotional development of students.

 

SAFETY AND SECURITY

 

 

In order to minimise the risk of harm to members of the school community, the following procedures have been established.

It is the aim of the School to ensure that:

• there are adequate levels of student supervision during normal school hours. 

• grounds and buildings are well maintained to minimise the risk of accidents and injuries to anyone who enters the School grounds.

• facilities are secure.

• appropriate emergency evacuation procedures are in place and potential threats to students within the School have been identified.

 

SAFETY AND SECURITY PROCEDURES

 

The School is committed to ensuring the safety and security of members of the School community and any visitors, as well as providing adequate protection of School property. The School has in place a number of measures to minimise risks and protect persons and property onsite.

 

1. Passive Safety and Security Measures

 

There will be a number of passive security measures in place that support the safety and security of students, staff and visitors while onsite:

• The school boundary will be suitably fenced to all neighbouring properties and roads. The boundary gates may be locked after normal school hours. Fences and gating will be monitored and maintained by the School Facilities Officer (or as delegated).

• All rooms with external access will normally locked outside of school time (except for cleaning) and staff are requested to keep rooms locked when not in use during the day. All doors are accessed via a Master key system, maintained by the Principal and School Facilities Officer. Security keys may only be issued to staff via the Principal and they will determine the level of security access available. Any loss of keys must be reported to the Principal and school Facilities Officer. Staff are not to attach school keys to any item that identifies the school (such as ID lanyards)

• Additional after hours security measures include may include mobile patrol from the on-site Facilities Officer and security lighting.

• New staff undergo security induction training and are issued with a staff handbook which includes procedures about use of keys, security procedures, supervision and duty of care responsibilities.

• Grounds and building will be monitored and maintained daily by the Facilities Officer to minimise the risk of accidents and injuries to anyone who enters the school grounds.

 

2. Site Security procedures during the normal school day:

 

Approved persons:

• Only approved persons are to enter the school grounds during normal school hours. To assist in identifying a person as approved:

• Students are required to wear approved School uniform, except on days that are designated as “mufti” days.

• All visitors to the school, including contractors and canteen workers, must report to the administration reception area where they will be issued with an official visitor’s tag. They will be required to sign in on arrival and sign out when leaving.

• Persons who have been enrolled at the School but who have graduated or transferred are classified as visitors and must be signed in at Reception by a member of the School Executive. Where a staff member arranges for such a person to visit for a specific reason, that staff member is responsible for them and must sign them in and ensure they sign out at the appointed time.

 

If a person onsite is unidentifiable as an approved person then the following procedure shall apply:

• A Staff member should approach the person and politely ask the individual if they can be of assistance and direct the person to reception to obtain a visitors tag. If the staff member is not satisfied that the person is on the grounds for a good reason, they should ask them to leave via the nearest exit. They should ensure that the person departs using that exit.

• If the person refuses to report to reception or leave the premises when requested, the staff member should not leave the person unattended to wander about the property but should keep them in view at all times, enlisting assistance from another staff member or even a student to report to either the Facilities Officer or a member of the executive, giving a description and approximate location of the School grounds. Call the Principal’s mobile phone.

• The executive staff member and/or Facilities Officer (both preferably) should immediately, on notification, locate the person and repeat the instructions to leave the site. A warning should be given that the police will be called if they refuse to do follow instructions.

• If the person still refuses to cooperate then the executive or Facilities Officer should report to the Principal (or delegate) who will arrange for the police to be called.

 

If a person is in the immediate vicinity of the School is perceived to pose a risk of harm, staff members should not approach the person but should report the matter to either the Facilities Officer or a member of the Executive, giving a description and approximate location. The executive staff member and/or Facilities Officer will locate the person and assess the risk, putting in place appropriate actions.

 

3. Site Security procedures for after-hours use of facilities:

 

 

For the safety of staff and protection of property, the School grounds and buildings should be secured when individual staff members are on site outside normal school hours. The following procedures should be followed by the staff:

• Lock the perimeter gates once they have entered the site.

• Lock their vehicle and secure all valuables

• Keep all external doors to occupied buildings locked.

• Upon leaving, buildings should be locked and gates locked on exiting the site.

 

Children on school premises after hours

 

All children who remain on the School premises after normal classes have ended and school buses have left should be located at the School Reception or under the supervision of responsible adults.

 

Staff children at all times (before, after or during school hours or in school holidays) must be under the close supervision of their parent in the same public area/room as their parent (eg. A classroom, or the parent’s office) but not in staff working areas of the School or playing outside, unsupervised.

 

It is strongly recommended that a staff member not be alone when going on to School premises after hours.

 

Security Checklist

In an effort to improve security at schools, it is useful to induct staff members and community groups in the security procedures relevant to them.

 

Procedures

• The front office will be responsible for the day-to-day signing in and out of parents and visitors during school hours. This is to ensure the safety and welfare of staff and students.

• The School Facilities Officer will be alerted during emergency situations such as lockdowns and evacuations.

• The relevant staff members will accompany parents and visitors to the front office.

 

Term Checklist

The following checklists are the responsibility of the Facilities Officer at the School. The checklist register is kept and maintained by the School Facilities Officer and checked by the WH&S committee and School Principal.

 

Electrical Equipment

• Emergency communication equipment (bells & phones) is checked and is operating correctly.

• Portable electrical appliance and leads are checked.

 

Exits and Exit routes

• Seldom- used exit doors are checked for correct operation.

• Security doors and their locking mechanisms are checked to ensure that locks do not jam or fail to release correctly.

 

Firefighting equipment

• Fire-fighting equipment is accessible and is not obstructed by furniture or other accumulated materials.

 

Security

• All fences are in good repair.

• All security lights are in good working order and lighting time switches have been set to operate in the hours of darkness.

• Undergrowth is kept trimmed back around the building to reduce hiding areas. Shrubs and bushes are trimmed to waist height and tree canopies are cut away to at least 2 meters from ground level

 

Outdoors

• Long grass is cut and shrubs and trees close to buildings are trimmed. Cut materials are removed.

 

Yearly Checklist:

 

Emergency Procedures

• Evacuation procedures exist and are regularly practised and updated. Records of evacuation and lockdown procedures can be found with the chairperson of the WH&S Committee.

• New members of staff are made fully aware of emergency procedures, including the names of their wardens, basic fire safety practices and the location of installed fire equipment.

• Ensure plans exist for major fire services. Plans must be readily accessible for use by emergency services.

• Warden lists are maintained and are up to date.