Safer Schools Accreditation 2024

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 and prospective parents.
• Establishing a Safer School Group. This Safer School Group is a partnership of school stakeholders – Headteacher, staff, governors, parents, pupils, neighbours, Shropshire Council and West Mercia Police.
• Regularly reviewing and implementing good practice and essential security/safety measures for staff, pupils, the site 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.

July 2024 Safer Schools Accreditation:

Ian Bartlett, Crime Prevention Officer at Shropshire Council commented;  “In 2024, Norton in Hales CE Nursery and Primary School  renewed its accreditation for ‘Safer School’. This is a risk management approach to school security, created by West Mercia Police and supported by Shropshire Council. It was a really productive meeting and a good reflection of the school’s hard work in maintaining the Safer School accreditation – excellent work. The school was presented with an updated certificate and a future annual meeting is planned for autumn 2025. Congratulations!”