Lockdown procedures should be seen as a sensible and proportionate response to any external or internal incident which has the potential to pose a threat to the safety of staff and pupils in the school. Procedures should aim to minimise disruption to the learning environment whilst ensuring the safety of all pupils and staff.

On very rare occasions it may be necessary to seal off the school so that it cannot be entered from the outside. This will ensure that students, staff and visitors are safe in situations where there is a hazard in the school grounds or outside the school in the near vicinity. A lockdown is implemented when there are serious security risks for the premises due to, for example, near-by chemical spillage, proximity of dangerous dogs, serious weather conditions or attempted access by unauthorised persons’ intent in causing harm/damage.

Students will be made aware of the detailed procedures, via the student bulletin, assemblies and via drills. The school will conduct a lockdown drill at least once a year.

Lockdown Arrangements: There are two types of lockdown; partial and full.

Partial Lockdown - This may be as the result of a reported incident/civil disturbance in the local community with the potential to pose a risk to staff and students in the school.

It may also be as a result of a warning being received regarding the risk of air pollution, etc. Staff and students should remain in the school building and all doors leading outside should be locked.

No one should be allowed to enter or leave the building.

Full Lockdown - This signifies an immediate threat to the school and may be an escalation of a partial lockdown. Staff and students should remain in the school building and all doors leading outside should be locked.

No one should be allowed to enter or leave the building. A Full Lockdown requires immediate action.

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