Safer Schools

I recently attended an enthusiastic Safer Schools meeting at Radbrook Primary School. Safer Schools is a safeguarding, security and safety process and this was an annual update meeting following the school’s accreditation in 2008.  

A thorough, positive and productive meeting involving Mrs Thelwell, staff and a governor.  We reviewed security/safety, analysed parent/carer/pupil feedback, considered any school issues and planned for the future. An important aspect is listening to the views of parents/carers and pupils. As previously, the survey feedback was reassuring, informative and useful but overwhelmingly, it was good.

The commitment of the school is a good reflection of the school’s hard work in maintaining the Safer School accreditation. A future meeting is planned for Summer 2025 and the school received an updated Safer School certificate in recognition of the school’s responsible approach to security, safety and safeguarding. Congratulations!

Ian Bartlett

Safer Schools

Shropshire Council

Our school is a Safer School
West Mercia Police and Shropshire Council support our school with the Safer School initiative.
We are an accredited Safer School and proud of our Safer School sign and certificate. The
accreditation is reviewed every two years.
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 for their views and updating them on any progress.
• Publicity of Safer Schools to school staff, pupils, school neighbours, parents/carers, and
• prospective parents/carers.
• 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.
• A proportional pro-active approach to the security/safety/safeguarding of staff, pupils, visitors, premises, property 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.