Themes

Influences on participation in learning

Experiences of learning

Technology and learning

» Themes/Experiences of learning/School Design

Safety and Security

Ensuring the safety and security of both staff and pupils is an important role of schools.  School design can help this objective, but there is a careful balance to be played between making a school as inviting and welcoming as possible, and ensuring that there is an appropriate level of security.  Security guards, metal detectors, locked doors, surveillance equipment, metal bars on windows all increase the level of security at the expense of making school seem more like prison. 

Technology has a part to play, for example, some schools no longer have paper registers.  Pupils carry a swipe card instead, which they swipe as they enter each classroom throughout the day. 

Location of windows, entrances and exits, central corridors and social areas all impact on how easy or difficult it is to spot an intruder, or pupils taking unauthorised absences!

Fire is another important consideration.  Pupils and staff must be able to get out of the building quickly and easily in the event of a fire.  This means that corridors and stairs must be wide enough to accommodate a large number of people at any one time and there must be sufficient exits clearly signposted.

Staff and student safety could be improved by a buzzer or intercom system in each classroom which enables a member of staff to contact a designated person in the event of an emergency. 

Back to School Design Home