Primary and secondary school estates are among the most dynamic environments facilities managers oversee. With high footfall, diverse age groups and constant movement throughout the day, maintaining a safe environment demands active, day-to-day risk management. Schools attending the Education Forum are increasingly adopting practical, preventative approaches to manage safety across busy campuses...
Understanding the unique risk profile
Unlike other estates, schools must balance safeguarding, operational safety and educational accessibility. Risks range from slips, trips and crowd congestion to safeguarding concerns and contractor activity during term time.
Younger pupils require closer supervision and clearer physical controls, while secondary schools face additional challenges around larger student populations, movement between classes and after-school activities.
Managing movement and congestion
One of the most consistent risks in schools is crowd movement, particularly during arrival, break times and dismissal.
Simple interventions can have a significant impact, including:
- Staggered start, break and finish times
- Clearly defined one-way systems in corridors
- Zoned play areas and supervised circulation routes
Regular reviews of how spaces are used (particularly during peak times) can help identify pressure points and reduce the likelihood of incidents.
Controlling contractor and visitor access
Schools frequently rely on external contractors for maintenance, cleaning and capital works. However, unmanaged access can introduce both safety and safeguarding risks.
Best practice includes:
- Strict sign-in procedures and visible identification
- Segregation of work areas from pupil spaces
- Scheduling high-risk works outside of core school hours where possible
Clear communication between estates teams, school leadership and contractors is essential to ensure risks are understood and controlled.
Embedding a culture of safety
In schools, safety is a shared responsibility. Engaging both staff and pupils helps reinforce safe behaviours across the estate.
This can include:
- Regular staff briefings and training
- Age-appropriate safety education for pupils
- Clear signage and consistent messaging
Encouraging reporting of near misses and minor incidents also helps build a more proactive safety culture.
Leveraging the right support
Given the complexity of school environments, many estates teams work with specialist suppliers. When selecting partners, schools should look for:
- Experience in education settings and safeguarding requirements
- Flexible service delivery aligned to term times
- Clear reporting and compliance support
- Strong communication with both FM teams and school leadership
A practical, preventative approach
For primary and secondary schools, effective safety management is about anticipating risks and responding quickly, rather than relying solely on formal policies.
By focusing on movement, access control and engagement, supported by the right partners, FM and estates leaders can create safer environments that support both learning and wellbeing across increasingly busy school campuses.
Are you searching for Environmental or Health & Safety solutions for your institution? The Education Forum can help!
