Of course there should be a risk assessment for a headteacher’s dog if it spends time in school with the pupils (“Meet Rosie, the 11-year-old Westie who sent watchdog barking mad”, December 11). It is being used in the same way as a school’s pet hamster and rabbit, which should also be risk assessed.
Why does everyone seem so surprised that Ofsted would pick up on this?
If the pet dog had nipped a child or member of staff then people would be up in arms. I am a health and safety consultant specialising in education and I am also an Independent Schools Inspectorate inspector and I would hope that any school had thought through the consequences of keeping a pet on its grounds.
I doubt if parents would be too happy about a loose snake or free-roaming parrot. It is fortunate Ofsted did not see the dog sitting on the picnic table - an eating surface - as shown in the article.
Tim Fulford, Education health and safety consultant, York.