High-profile incidents, such as a £200,000 vandalism case in two North London schools, prompt the public to question whether their children are safe in educational institutions. As concerns rise, school administrators are turning to advanced, comprehensive solutions to help improve security and mitigate risks and threats.

Where administrators seek to build the best learning environment possible, they look for the best school security systems to help achieve that goal.

What makes an effective school security system?

The purpose of school security systems is to protect students and staff from any threats to their safety and keep the institution’s daily activities running smoothly. They help procure a safe learning environment, designed to deter antisocial behaviour, intrusions and any scenarios that could compromise school safety and integrity.

Effective school security systems help maintain the safest possible learning environment. They constitute a series of equipment and software that address the varied security needs of the premises, focusing on safeguarding students and staff.

Here are the main elements that help build an effective school security system:

• Access control: Preventing unauthorised access is an imperative part of student and staff safety, helping to mitigate the risk of damage, disruption and harm to people and property. Security teams can deploy access control in sensitive school areas to regulate entry, with remote management to manage access in case of an incident.
• Video security cameras: Maintaining comprehensive visual oversight of school facilities can help determine safety risks and facilitate faster action from security personnel. Cameras and video management systems with advanced video analytics can help alert security officers to suspicious behaviour and objects, further improving student protection.
• Detection sensors: Internet of things (IoT) detection sensors can help improve perimeter security for windows and doors, and identify security concerns where camera access is limited such as in restrooms or offices. These devices include motion, sound and smoke detection, transmitting real-time alerts to staff whenever triggered.
• Visitor management systems: Platforms that maintain activity logs of temporary visitors and contractors who enter and exit the school can support access control systems, keeping a database of campus authorisation.
• Integrated communication: School security systems that integrate communication channels, such as real-time notifications for activity, help security teams verify and respond to incidents more swiftly.
• Data analytics: Many devices in school security systems can feed activity data into a central analytics platform. School administrators and security personnel can use the processed information to help make more informed decisions on improving security on premises.

How to choose the right security system for schools

Choosing the right security system for schools means integrating components that can effectively mitigate the safety risks and threats to the campus. Students, staff and visitors should feel safe attending the facilities while being able to conduct daily activities without disruption.

Each school has unique safety needs, which means its security system requirements can vary. Those can range from preventing vandalism in changing rooms to maintaining safety during class science experiments.

Below are a few tips to help administrators decide on the right security system for their school. Find a system that:

• Is scalable and flexible to campus needs
• Promotes better student and staff safety
• Includes devices that comply with privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR)
• Is remotely accessible on various devices
• Combines devices into a unified security solution
• Compatible with any existing security infrastructure

What are the best school security systems?

Considering the factors that make an effective school security system and how to choose the right one, there are a few that stand out. These solutions cover many of the current concerns of administrators in improving campus safety.

Here are the best and most reputable systems that can help meet school security objectives:

1. Avigilon

Avigilon’s school security systems have a glowing reputation as one of the most comprehensive solutions for campuses. Trusted by many global institutions, their service range covers every factor of what makes a school security system effective.

From cameras with video analytics and visitor management to smart sensors, the scalable, flexible and wide range of applications make the brand preferred by many education institutions due to its successes in enhancing security. The use cases highlight how Avigilon’s systems have offered affordable solutions that have positively impacted security circumstances on campus.

2. Uniview

Uniview is another school security system that provides a unified approach to address education safety challenges and bring peace of mind to parents. The brand offers comprehensive solutions for video security cameras, access control, vehicle and attendance management and intelligent analytics, all designed to enhance campus safety consistently.

3. Hanwha Vision

Hanwha Vision’s educational mantra is that better security can help better academic achievement. Aside from their modern cameras, the supporting software analyses audio and visual data in real-time to enable faster, more detailed responses to any security incidents, keeping students and staff in an ideal learning environment.

4. Pelco

Pelco delivers enhanced awareness in educational institutions with its advanced school security system, incorporating a complete range of robust camera hardware to vape detection sensors. It’s another brand that focuses on enhancing campus security strategies, improving awareness, adapting to new threats and scaling to meet demand.

5. Rhombus

Rhombus dedicates its solutions to eliminating security silos in educational institutions, helping to ensure a unified safety overview that enhances observation and response capabilities. Their devices and platforms combine to link authorities responsible for campus security, facilitating better communication to prevent and respond to incidents appropriately.

Build a better learning environment with school security systems

Every school administrator wants their school to have a reputation as safe and successful, where students can learn and teachers can conduct their lessons without disruption. Where UK schools continue to struggle with security, a new system can help improve circumstances.

Choosing the right school security system can help achieve security objectives, setting up infrastructure that scales and adapts to constantly evolving campus safety threats. Implementing the best can ease concerns of parents and guardians, building the thriving learning environment they desire.

The rise in cyber risks facing our nation means that taking steps to secure your smartphone is vital. Whether you’re using an iPhone or an Android, check out the following practices to keep your data safe from cyber threats.

Update Your Operating System and Apps

Keeping your smartphone’s operating system and apps up to date is one of the simplest ways to protect it. Updates often include patches for vulnerabilities that hackers exploit. When you delay installing them, you leave your mobile exposed to known security risks.

To stay secure, check your device settings for automatic updates. Also, regularly update your apps through the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. If an app hasn’t had an update in months, consider whether you should keep it.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) boosts your accounts’ security by implementing a second step beyond a password. Even if someone steals your login, they can’t access your account without the secondary code. The codes are often sent to your phone or email or generated through an app like Google Authenticator.

Most apps and accounts offer 2FA. Although this might seem like overkill, you should always use it for critical accounts like email, social media, and banking.

Protect Your Connection With a VPN

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts your internet connection. This makes it harder for hackers to steal your data on unsecured Wi-Fi. Whether you’re at a café or airport, a VPN protects sensitive information such as financial details from falling into the wrong hands.

Choose a reputable VPN service and download its app from the official app store. Many providers also highlight their best VPN offers on their websites, allowing you to secure a great deal while enhancing your online privacy.

For users who can’t access an app store or need advanced features like ad blocking, downloading the app directly from the provider’s official site is another reliable option.

Avoid Suspicious Messages and Emails

Criminals use phishing tactics to trick you into revealing information or installing malware. These attacks are often fake emails or text messages that appear to be from legitimate sources, like your bank.

Be cautious of messages that urge you to click on links, especially if they claim there’s an urgent issue with your account. Visit the company’s official website or call their customer service if you’re unsure. Avoid opening attachments from unknown senders, as they may contain malware.

Combine These Strategies for Full Protection

Following these steps together can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to online threats. Treat smartphone security as an ongoing practice and stay vigilant against evolving tactics. Your digital life depends on it!

It is estimated that over 1 million people attend emergency departments across England and Wales with head injuries annually. Between 33% and 50% of hospital attendees are under the age of 15, highlighting how prevalent head injuries are in young people.  Many of these recover well without the need for medical intervention, however, it can be life-changing for some sufferers.

One cause of head injuries is road accidents. Unfortunately, road safety is not an innate sense that we are born with, so it needs to be taught. Here is why road safety education is so important.

Why road safety education matters

You may think that teaching road safety is about memorising rules, but it goes much further than that. Nurturing a sense of responsibility and awareness goes a long way in life, not just around our roads.

By teaching road safety, you are encouraging your children valuable skills such as risk assessment, following instructions and keeping focused in hectic environments. These are transferrable to other areas of their lives and well into the future.

Children often travel to school and go out with friends as they get older, so equipping them with the skills to keep safe is essential. Encouraging independence for travel helps to build confidence around their whole being.

Road safety’s main aim is to reduce accidents and injuries. Teaching kids to respect the road as well as how to cross safely, for example, reduces incidents and keeps kids safe.

The parent’s role in teaching road safety

As parents, the responsibility to teach your little ones everything can feel a bit overwhelming at times. Road safety can be integrated into everyday life, so it feels less like a lesson and more natural.

Starting early is key to grasping the basics. Even when your kids are babies, narrating what you are doing when you cross the road or identifying road signs can help them understand the idea of safety and road signs. Making these actions as normal as possible helps kids to learn and copy.

There are plenty of interactive songs and games which you can introduce to your children about road safety. Sometimes a catchy tune really helps to drive the point home!

The potential impact of road accidents

Even the most conscientious and aware child can be involved in an accident. Accidents can be devastating as the resulting injuries can be serious.

If your child is involved in a road traffic accident which results in a brain injury, it is imperative that you seek legal advice. Specialist brain injury claims solicitors will be able to help you navigate the legal complexities of making sure your child receives the care and compensation they deserve.

One of the simplest yet most effective tools at your disposal is a tool tether. It looks like a little bungee lanyard but it can wind up having a hugely positive impact on your jobsite going forward.

What is Tool Tethering?

Tool tethers are a means of preventing tools from falling when working in elevated or confined spaces. Even from just a few feet in the air, a falling tool can have devastating consequences. Using a tool tether on the job can be a simple but effective way of keeping your tools protected and those around you safe.

Tool tethers have three general components. There is the lanyard itself, a tether point where it holds the tool(s) in question, and an anchor point. Each plays a crucial role in keeping your tools safe yet accessible even when in a compromising position.

Why to Tether Your Tools

“Why tether my tools” is a simple question but an important one to ask. After all, you might feel like you have sure hands or enough space in your tool belt to hold everything. Why add another piece of equipment to the mix when you don’t have to? As it turns out, there are several major reasons to make the move to a tool tether.

Safety

On any given jobsite, there are going to be people moving around below. Whether passing through or doing work of their own, they are in a vulnerable position being beneath someone on an elevated surface.

A falling tool, even a smaller one, can wind up having devastating consequences. Tools that are properly tethered will simply rebound back to the owner and remain safely in tow. Preventing falling tools is critical for personal safety.

Business Liability

From a business perspective, there is the matter of liability to consider. Accidents that happen on the job can lead to potentially costly fines and claims, all of which can negatively impact the bottom line. Businesses looking to cut down on liability concerns would naturally insist on tethered tools. Doing so would limit the potential for an accident created by falling tools.

Protecting Your Investment

Tools can be quite costly, especially if you have accumulated a nice cache over time. There will be no worse feeling than seeing that valuable investment fall to its doom. If only there were a simple but effective means of keeping them protected.

Using a tool tether is simple, cheap, and will do the most to protect your valuable tools. Most importantly, it will save you the feeling of “I should have used one” when something ultimately does fall.

Ensure Safety Standards are Followed

The single most important part of choosing a tool tether is to ensure that it follows proper safety standards. Each piece of safety equipment undergoes stringent testing to ensure that they adhere to necessary safety standards.

Some of these procedures involve third party testing, which determines tensile strength, durability, and more. It is also important to consider the length of the tool tether that you are considering. There are some shorter, fabric options while others go for longer, bungee-like tethers.

Though they might not seem like much, tool tethers are invaluable where elevated work is required. Take the time to invest in a tool tether to keep your tools, coworkers, and your business protected from an unnecessary accident.

From cybercriminals posing as suppliers, to other cyber-threats such as phishing links, designed to obtain data through defrauding someone into disclosure; and ransomware, which aims to extort money via a ransom following the acquisition and encryption of data or files – cyber attacks can have far-reaching consequences for pupils’ education, teachers’ resources, and learning systems.

Weak passwords, poorly designed software, authorising too many people to access files and accidental human error are all contenders for a data breach/cyber attack.

Schools are more likely to identify cyber security breaches than the average business

In their latest report, the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology stated that all types of education institutions are more likely to identify cyber security breaches or attacks than the average business.* In the last 12 months, 63% of secondary schools and 41% of primary schools identified cyber breaches or attacks.

Phishing attacks are by far the most common type of breach or attack identified, followed by online impersonation, then viruses, spyware, or malware.

Many of these issues can be avoided through staff training and investing in robust data management processes.

What to do if a data breach occurs

If a serious data breach occurs which is likely to harm the rights and freedoms of individuals, it must be reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) within 72 hours. The ICO will then provide advice and guidance on how to manage the breach, and lessons to be learned so it doesn’t happen again. This may cover what improvements to policy documents, security measures, and training the school needs to put in place.

How can cyber insurance protect schools?

What options are available to schools if they do suffer a serious security breach, even if all policies have been closely followed? One option which can provide a viable safety net against emerging cybercrime and security threats is cyber insurance.

Not only does a cyber insurance typically cover loss of income related to a cyber attack, but it can also cover the cost of third-party experts should they be required, such as a forensic investigator or ransom negotiator, and the cost of full data re-creation.

Should a cyber attack happen, having insurance in place could be the difference between a breach being well-managed, and resolved, or a difficult process ensuing. Cyber security insurance can also be supported by an online reputational risk management policy which can include the use of ‘social listening’ technology to monitor your school’s digital footprint and alert stakeholders to any imminent online reputational risks.

Is your school fully protected?

Whether you’re covered by a commercial insurance policy or the Risk Protection Arrangement, it’s worth checking to see if your current cyber cover is as extensive as it could be. Here are a few questions to ask:

• Does your policy cover your school for extortion as standard?
• What are the current limits of indemnity?
• Does your policy only cover the restoration of data/ systems if there’s a back-up available, or are you covered for full recreation of data and systems?
• Is your insurer pro-actively trying to reduce cyber events via risk management/ internet scanning and by being aware of ongoing threats to the market, or do they only offer reactive cover?

Complimentary cyber insurance review

Endsleigh, part of Howden the global insurance group, has almost 60 years’ experience providing insurance solutions to the education community. We’d like to offer you a no obligation, complimentary review of your current cyber cover. Call us on 0333 234 1553, email us at schools@endsleigh.co.uk or book your review here.

Find out more about Endsleigh’s cyber insurance cover for schools.

* Cyber security breaches survey 2023: education institutions annex – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

As many schools across the country prepare to close their doors for the summer holidays, specialist insurer Ecclesiastical says schools will be an attractive target for criminals over the coming months.

Ecclesiastical reports schools have been targeted over the summer months including vandalism, arson, break-ins, smashed windows, theft of lead from roofs and stolen laptops.

Amid high inflation, soaring prices and more facing economic hardship, there are worries there will be a large spike in criminal activity.

Faith Kitchen, customer segment director at Ecclesiastical Insurance, said: “Schools are far more vulnerable during the summer holidays when school buildings are closed and largely unoccupied, tempting opportunists. With high inflation and the cost of living crisis, it is more important than ever that schools take steps to protect their premises from offenders. There are a number of measures schools can take to better secure school property and assets, which would ideally be a combination of both physical and electronic protection. Fencing around the perimeter can often offer a good first line of defence against unwanted visitors, while CCTV can act as a visual deterrent for those not wanting to be caught on camera. We urge schools across the country take steps to protect themselves from criminals and follow our guidance.”

How to protect your school this summer:

• Ensure CCTV systems have remote 24/7 monitoring services. Monitoring and alerting the police is far more effective than tracing criminals after a crime has taken place.
• Install remotely monitored intruder alarms and change alarm security codes and passwords on a regular basis.
• Install security lighting systems that have motion sensors to detect body movements.
• Restrict access to school premises. Well-designed perimeter security such as walls, fences and electric security gates, and anti-climb paint help to prevent people from getting onto school sites.
• Restrict vehicular access to the school site. Locate any designated parking as far from the school building as possible. The further thieves have to travel on foot the greater the risk of detection.
• Use security marking systems such as SmartWater which can help with successful prosecution of thieves.
• Ask the local community near your school to be vigilant and report any unusual or suspicious activity they notice on school grounds.
• Inform neighbourhood watch schemes / police liaison officers of planned work over the holidays as thieves might pose as contractors.
• Seek advice. Specialist insurers can offer advice and expertise to help schools manage security risks. Insurers can offer a combination of onsite and remote risk management services including security assessments and advice, alongside broader property protection and building valuation services.

The survey, carried out by Judicium with parent company Supporting Education Group, asked more than 620 designated safeguarding leads (DSLs) and SLT members in schools across England to rate the effectiveness of a range of key safeguarding activities.

Schools found that filtering and monitoring ICT usage, along with safeguarding training and updating safeguarding records to be areas of low effectiveness and high personal challenge.

Just 18% of all respondents said filtering and monitoring was as effective as it can be in their schools, with 59% claiming it is one of their biggest current challenges. These results were driven by DSLs – 65% rated it a big challenge, compared to 46% of SLTs.

Just a quarter (25%) of all respondents thought that their current safeguarding and child protection training works well and 43% said the activity is one of their biggest challenges. DSLs once again led these concerns – just 16% find this training works as well as it could, compared to 49% of SLT members.

Updating and reviewing safeguarding records to identify patterns of events or behaviour was another key pain point for effective safeguarding, with 30% finding this activity challenging.

Drafting and reviewing policies, and communicating with stakeholders, such as other professionals, parents, students and agencies, were rated as high effectiveness, low challenge activities.

The survey was carried out in June 2022 to better understand how schools think about and meet some of the challenges associated with safeguarding and to explore if any additional resources and support can be provided to help schools with this important area.

The findings follow analysis by Judicium which has revealed the important part safeguarding failures play in Ofsted category 4 inspection reports. Of the 130 inadequate judgements between 2019 and 2021, 59 (45%) cited safeguarding as ineffective. Record keeping, leadership, and governance, following-up concerns, staff training and pupil safety were most frequently cited in inspector feedback in these cases.

Helen King, a former DSL in a London secondary school and now head of safeguarding at Judicium, says: “We know from our safeguarding work with schools that the risks of getting safeguarding wrong are significant and can have a devastating impact on pupils. These findings will help to highlight key areas of concern for schools, service providers and policy makers.

“We also need to bear in mind that the DSL role is a high accountability job which has grown hugely in recent years – KCSIE has more than trebled in size over the past seven years, from 57 pages in 2015 to almost 180 today. That needs to be reflected in the understanding of the DSL remit and the support that is available to them if the role is to remain effective.”

The new toolkit comprises a collection of key documents that schools can use to improve their cybersecurity and also use as a foundation for attaining Cyber Essentials Certification – a foundation level certification designed to provide a statement of the basic controls they should have in place to mitigate the risk from common cyber threats.

The following key documents can be downloaded for free:

A CyberSecurity Policy Template  – designed to complement the schools existing social media and acceptable use policies – which outlines the school’s guidelines and security provisions that are there to protect its systems, services, and data in the event of a cyberattack.

An Incident Response Plan which can be used as a starting point for planning recovery from a ransomware attack, or any other kind of unforeseen outage.

An Example Risk Register that can be used to assess, evaluate, prioritise and manage cybersecurity risks. This can also be used by the school’s senior leadership team to report to governors on how they are proactively managing risks and improving cybersecurity.

An Example Asset Register that can be used as a starting point to inventory the equipment used in the school. It sounds obvious, but it’s impossible to be secure if you don’t know what you have.

An Example Software Register used to record which software/systems schools have and whether they hold confidential information. This can be used to complement the Incident Response Plan for prioritising the recovery of services.

Commenting on the new resource, Dinesh Seegobin, Head of ICT at STEP Academy Trust, said, “We all know that being aware of cybersecurity is critical but how many of us can claim to be experts? In addition, there is so much information out there to digest, where do you begin? This is where, yet again, LGfL has come to our rescue. The Elevate Cybersecurity Toolkit is an absolute game changer. A one-stop shop to help get you on track backed up with all the weight of industry experts.”

To download your free copy please visit http://www.elevate.lgfl.net

Door Group, a unit of ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland, is stressing

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires schools to undertake risk assessments to identify the general fire precautions needed to safeguard the safety of occupants in case of fire, including their safe means of escape.

Despite this, recent research[1] showed that schools have been hit by 2,300 fires in the last five years, destroying 47 primary and secondary school buildings alone.

Fire doors are one of the most important safety features in a building, and regular product specifications or dedicated fire door inspections are essential to fully ensure health and safety measures are met.

Education buildings can present highly specific requirements for fire doorsets, with particularly varied legislation and building regulations surrounding fire doors in schools.

These doors are subject to extremely high levels of traffic, and subsequently a higher level of misuse and abuse, which can then lead to functional problems resulting in non-compliance.

Brian Sofley, Managing Director of ASSA ABLOY Door Group, explains: “Whilst statutory inspections are being completed for the entire building, the necessary attention to fire door compliance is being overlooked.

“Our team of BRE qualified engineers have found a large percentage of fire doors to be non-compliant when completing a dedicated fire door inspection in schools over the past 3-4 years. For example, in one school, 163 of the 164 fire doors we inspected were not fire compliant.”

The economic and social impact of school fires on staff, pupils, and the local community can be significant, causing financial hardship, emotional trauma, and a delay in learning.

A study[2] found that 17 per cent of schools who had experienced a fire said that it had led to a drop in staff morale, six per cent to a drop in morale amongst pupils and seven per cent said that their fire had led to negative publicity about their school.

Door Group is committed to raising the standard of fire door safety in schools, providing a fully comprehensive inspection which can be carried out every three, four, six or 12 months to suit specific requirements.

Following inspections, Door Group then offer detailed reports containing advice and recommendations on necessary improvements, with the knowledge that identifying any potential issues that could impact safety and product performance can be lifesaving.

If any issues do occur, a tailored repair proposal is issued to include anything from replacement doors to a regular maintenance program. Door Group inspectors are BRE-certified and will ensure that all fire doors inspected meet all necessary standards and regulations.

Brian adds: “An education building should be a safe and secure place for students and staff, to work and learn. Door Group is committed to making schools, colleges and universities across the UK fire protected.

“With regular and thorough inspections, we can ensure the compliance and performance of fire doorsets in an effort to improve overall fire safety in the educational environment, while minimising the risk that learning could be negatively impacted by a fire.”

For more information on ASSA ABLOY Door Group, please visit https://bit.ly/3hVybbC.

[1] https://www.zurich.co.uk/media-centre/more-than-1100-classrooms-gutted-by-school-blazes

[2] National Foundation for Educational Research – The impact of school fires: A study of the wider economic and social impacts on schools and the local community

Ensure the teacher is present 

Teacher supervision is vital when managing the children in your care. Leaving your class unattended is dangerous as there is no one to manage a difficult situation. Not only this, but lack of teacher supervision makes children more likely to act up – increasing the risk of harm. If you need to leave the room, you must ensure another teacher or teaching assistant is present to take over responsibility.

Provide appropriate safety equipment and clothing 

Before experimenting in a science classroom, you must provide your children with the appropriate safety equipment and clothing. For example, all children should be provided with a lab coat, goggles and gloves when working with a live flame or chemicals.

Enforce lab safety 

Prohibition signs should be placed visibly throughout the science classroom. Signs such as no eating, drinking or running, will help children understand the boundaries in the space. However, reinforce the rules by reminding your class of them each lesson. This will help to keep order in the room and reduce the risk of harm.

Provide demonstrations before experiments 

If there is an experiment included in your lesson plan, make sure you demonstrate it. Showing your class exactly how an experiment should get done will help them to complete it safely. Not only this, but it will reduce the chance of anyone guessing what to do and doing it wrong. Therefore, making it a safe and sensible option.

Prepare for emergencies 

Naked flames and harmful chemicals all carry risks. The chance of something going wrong in a controlled environment is minimal. However, you must be prepared to get your class to safety in the event of an emergency. Making your group aware of the fire exits and escape routes in your classroom is vital. Discuss your fire safety strategy with your class and practice with them if needs be. Then, in the event of an emergency, you and your class can escape calmly and reduce the risk of harm.