Our School is a 'Safer School'
I’d like to congratulate Clee Hill Community Academy on maintaining the Safer
School accreditation. The Safer School initiative is a risk management approach to school security, created by West Mercia Police and supported by Shropshire Council. The school was accredited in 2007 and recently, Mrs Little held a Safer School review meeting. A thorough, positive and productive Safer School meeting, attended by the Police and myself. We reviewed security/safety, analysed parent/carer/pupil feedback, considered any school issues and planned for the future. The meeting illustrated the school’s hard work in maintaining the Safer School accreditation – excellent work. The school was presented with an updated certificate and a future meeting is planned for Spring 2025. Congratulations! Ian Bartlett, Safer Schools, Shropshire Council
What is safer schools?
The initiative is a holistic, practical and realistic approach to school security and personal safety. It gives our school a clear focus on the subject and turns a negative subject into a positive one. It sets a minimum standard for school security.
The essential elements of the ‘Safer School’ process include:-
- Implementing a security policy that the governors have adopted.
- Consulting parents/carers and pupils/students for their views and updating them on any progress.
- Publicity of Safer Schools to school staff, pupils, school neighbours, parents and prospective parents.
- Establishing a Safer School Group. This Safer School Group is a partnership of school stakeholders – Headteacher/Deputy, staff, governors, parents, pupils, neighbours, Shropshire Council and West Mercia Police.
- Regularly reviewing and implementing good practice and essential security/safety measures for staff, pupils, the site and assets.
- Educating pupils through the Personal, Social, Health and Economic curriculum programme or the Safer School folder.
- A daily procedure for recording incidents should they occur i.e. trespass, burglary, theft, anti-social behaviour, vandalism, arson, suspicious activity etc., both during school hours and out-of hours.
- Solving real problems rather than perceived problems. Prioritising work (if any) and reviewing action.
- If there are security issues i.e. vandalism, anti-social behaviour etc., the intention of the initiative is to reduce/eliminate the issues.
