Inconsistent security measures in Scottish school sites are leaving the safety of pupils and staff to chance, the NASUWT teaching union will say today.
Delegates will hear that the picture across Scotland “varies considerably”, for a variety of reasons.
Representatives attending the annual NASUWT Scotland conference in Glasgow today will say there has been a failure to maintain the security measures in schools implemented after the 1996 Dunblane tragedy, when 16 primary 1 pupils and their teacher were killed and 15 people were injured.
Members will raise concerns that security arrangements have been reduced in some schools and that measures to control access to school buildings are no longer strictly applied.
They will call for the Scottish government to ensure consistent standards of school safety and security for staff and pupils across Scotland.
‘Not about turning schools into fortresses’
Mike Corbett, NASUWT Scotland national official, said that “the current picture across the country varies considerably, often due to the age of the school building, the availability of resources for school maintenance and the adherence of employers to safety guidance”.
He added: “The safety and security of children and the school workforce should not be a matter of chance.
“Every school should have statutory security standards they are required to meet and everyone working or learning on school sites should have a clear understanding of the protections that are in place and what they should do in the event of an incident.
“This is not about turning schools into fortresses, but putting in place proportionate measures to ensure security is not compromised.”
Matt Wrack, NASUWT acting general secretary, said that the Cullen inquiry after Dunblane at the time “recognised that those who have the legal responsibility for the health and safety of the teaching staff and pupils in schools should prepare a safety strategy for the protection of the school population against violence, together with an action plan for implementing and monitoring the effectiveness of safety measures appropriate to the particular school”.
‘Security approaches not consistently maintained’
He added: “Sadly, other attacks and attempted attacks on staff and pupils on school sites in the UK have taken place in recent years and teachers report approaches to school security have not been consistently maintained.
“There is no place for complacency when it comes to school security. Guidance should be developed in partnership with industry experts and trade unions to ensure all schools are aware of their obligations and responsibilities on safety and that they are taking adequate steps to address the risks.”
A Scottish government spokesperson said: “The Dunblane atrocity was one of Scotland’s darkest days and we will always remember the 16 children and the teacher who tragically lost their lives.
“Although it is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to manage their school estate, we expect them to provide safe environments for all school users.”
A spokesperson for local authorities body Cosla said: “Councils take the health and safety of their workforce and those that access their services very seriously. This obviously includes children, young people and school staff.
“Every effort is made to ensure that learning environments are safe and secure spaces that are also welcoming and nurturing. If any employee feels unsafe, they should raise this with their line manager in the first instance and follow local authority protocols in terms of alerting senior officers.”
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