What does School Lockdown mean?

Recently there has been an increasing threat of firearms, weapons and terrorist attacks on schools and other places where people would usually feel safe. This has lead to an increased need for efficient procedures to protect everyone in the building and reduce the risk of danger. Unfortunately, this has now become an important consideration in the UK.

A Lockdown Procedure provides the steps that can be taken to prevent threats and intruders from gaining access into school buildings and preventing them from moving through the building. This is achieved through actions and physical measures in response to warnings of threats that are about to happen.

Why do we have School Lockdown procedures?

There is an increasing importance of Lockdown Systems and procedures due to rising threat of firearm, weapon and terrorist attacks especially on schools and other educational locations. Usually those who are thinking about carrying out an attack plan in advance, any opportunity to notice and prevent threats should be taken advantage of - for example day-to-day staff awareness, the use of CCTV/surveillance, prevention communications and active security zones.

Complete prevention of attacks cannot be fully certain, therefore, being able to discourage and delay the attackers during a threat can be very useful. An effective Lockdown Procedure can be incredibly beneficial by enabling students and staff to find a safe and secure place, therefore reducing potential casualties.

The main aims of a school lockdown include:

• To remove students and staff away from the threat.
• Keeping the threat isolated from as much of the school as possible.
• Accurate recording of which students are in each room, identifying anybody who is missing.
• Developing an efficient evacuation away from the threat.

There are two key types of lockdown situations:

1. School lockdown with warning: threat is outside the school
2. School lockdown with intruder: threat or intruder has got inside the school

School Lockdown with Warning Procedure

Carry out the following steps when the threat is outside of the school building:

• A designated member of staff should repeat the announcement “lockdown with warning”.
• Note: Ensure lessons that are being carried out outdoors (e.g. P.E.) are able to hear the lockdown announcements. Suggesting an alternative lockdown location where students and staff in this situation can be hidden safely is important.
• Lock exterior doors.
• Students or staff in rooms that are not able to be secured such as hallways and bathrooms should move to rooms that can be secured (e.g. classrooms).
• Secure and cover classroom windows.
• Move everyone away from windows.
• Teachers should take a register of students in each classroom (take note of any missing or extra students in the room). Keep the list of names when allowed to leave the room.
• When the threat has been removed, the designated member of staff can announce “all clear”.

School Lockdown with Intruder

Carry out the following steps when the threat or intruded is already inside the school building:

• A designated member of staff should repeat the announcement “lockdown with intruder”.
• All students, staff and any visitors must be directed to the nearest secure room without delay.
• Outdoor lessons must not go back inside the building. Instead move them to their designated safe space.
• Lock all classroom doors.
• DO NOT lock exterior doors.
• Move everyone away from windows and doors. Make sure all students remain sitting on the floor.
• Turn off the lights.
• Teachers should take a register of students in each classroom (take note of any missing or extra students in the room). Keep the list of names when allowed to leave the room.
• DO NOT respond to anybody at the door until it has been announced that it is safe.
• Keep out of sight.
• Ensure students move quickly and quietly when or if they are moved out of the room.
• When there is no longer a threat or the intruder has left the building, the designated member of staff should announce “all clear”.

Alternative Lockdown Situations

Lockdown before the school starts:

• Staff should direct students from the hallways into their classrooms.
• Staff should check the hallways and outside of the building.
• A member of staff should be appointed to drop-off zones to notify parents and students of the potential danger.
• Teachers should register the names of students in their classrooms.
• After “all clear” has been announced, students should go to their first lesson to gain an accurate record of attendance.

Lockdown between lessons:

• Staff should direct students from the hallways into their classrooms.
• Staff should check the hallways and outside of the building.
• Teachers should register the names of students in their classrooms.
• After “all clear” has been announced, students should go to their next lesson to gain an accurate record of attendance.

Lockdown during afterschool activities:

• Activity leaders should record the names of students present.
• Staff should check the hallways and other rooms in the building.

> Click here for more details on Lockdown Procedures and Systems

Free system design support for your Lockdown System

CIE AV Solutions is one of the UK's leading providers of integrated audio visual and access control systems. Our team of in-house system architects provide a free specification & design service to help you develop the best Lockdown System for your environment using your existing or new infrastructure.

Our design team will help to specify a Dynamic Lockdown System tailored to meet the individual needs of your school, college, university or corporate building.

> Click here to view some of the many Education projects handled by our team