the educator mag Jan 26 - Flipbook - Page 36
3 Practical Ways to Make
Your School Safer in 2026
UK schools 昀椀nd themselves in a dif昀椀cult situation. Government
guidance and regulations on safeguarding children in education
are extensive, but implementing a cohesive strategy that
addresses the physical safety and mental well-being of staff
and pupils remains challenging.
A 2024 survey by the Department for
Education found that 69% of headteachers
and senior staff reported their school was
safe every day, while only 39% of students
reported feeling safe every day during the
previous week. This disparity highlights a
disconnect between teachers and pupils.
Creating safer schools in 2026 requires
proactive, practical measures that go
beyond compliance guidelines and build
trust with staff, pupils, and parents.
Post-pandemic disruptions, increased
mental health needs and community
issues can all affect safety within
educational environments, and are well
worth considering in any risk assessment.
When conducted regularly and reviewed
each term, safety audits highlight pressing
risks and lead to actionable, prioritised
outcomes.
Improve physical safety through
site design and technology
Schools must take an integrated approach
to safety that addresses both real and
perceived risks. The following strategies
outline achievable and actionable steps
schools can take to reduce incidents and
rebuild confidence with their communities.
Safety audits and risk assessments
Physical safety is a central pillar of school
safeguarding. Access controls and a
well-maintained perimeter help deter
unauthorised entry, while clear signage
guides visitors and scheduled guests to
reception areas, ensuring those with
permission can navigate the school
without friction.
Before implementing any technologies or
interventions, schools need a clear, concise
view of their existing risks. A comprehensive assessment is the first step in any
security overhaul and provides a holistic
view of how safety is experienced day-today by students and staff alike. A meaningful adult should review physical spaces,
such as:
Many UK schools enhance their safety
strategy with video security cameras.
Research suggests that around 85% of
British secondary schools use CCTV or
similar systems to support intervention
efforts and enhance reviews. Cameras
alone do not make a site safer, unless they
are implemented with purpose.
• Classrooms
• Common areas and playgrounds
• Entrances and exits
• Routines and supervision levels
• Toilets
• Transition areas, like corridors, where
many instances of bullying and
harassment occur
Many of these locations can be blind
spots for senior leaders, who have a firm
overview of policy but lack the
experiential understanding of where
and how threats present. Anonymous
surveys, focus groups, and feedback
sessions allow assessment practitioners
to gather multiple perspectives.
Modern video security cameras can
enhance school safety by providing
high-quality coverage, intelligent
monitoring, and integration with access
controls. They also support compliance
with the UK GDPR and the 2018 Data
Protection Act through controlled access,
retention policies and audit trails.
These systems use advanced analytics to
highlight unusual activity or predefined
events, enabling faster responses and
more efficient use of time by eliminating
routine observation.
CTV is most effective when it informs
strategy and complements human
presence and supervision. With automatic
tagging and logs, footage can be easily
reviewed to allocate resources and refine
the broader school safety strategy.
Strengthen the perception of
safety through school culture
A school may meet safeguarding
requirements in theory, but if students
don’t feel secure, then the effectiveness
of those measures is limited.
Schools can improve how students
experience safety by:
INCREASING STAFF PRESENCE
Station staff in corridors and common
areas during high-traffic periods to provide
reassurance, deter unsafe behaviour, and
intervene in the event it occurs.
CREATING CLEAR EXPECTATIONS
Another discrepancy noted in the DfE
report was the extent to which students
felt consequences applied to poor
behaviour. Consistent application of rules
and penalties helps maintain clear
boundaries and assures students that
issues will be addressed with consistency.
ENCOURAGING REPORTING
Pupils are more likely to speak up if they
feel their concerns will be taken seriously.
Implementing an anonymous reporting
option can encourage students who fear
the repercussions of reporting bullying.
BALANCING SANCTIONS WITH SUPPORT
Schools should build relationships with
local police and youth support services to
address behavioural issues appropriately.
Coordination and early intervention can
ensure vulnerable students feel safe and
that concerns are addressed through
restorative practices that reduce the
likelihood of repeated incidents.
Creating safer schools through
proactive security
School safety relies on more than
individual interventions and reactive
measures. As we prepare for 2026, those
who take a proactive, integrated approach
will be better placed to reduce incidents
and support early intervention, creating
environments where pupils and staff feel
supported, secure and able to focus on
learning.
