18 Strategies to Secure School Premises

The average school has hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals who will enter and exit on any given day. While staff, faculty, and students are familiar, many people, such as delivery persons, parents, and visitors, aren’t. As there is pressure on schools to increase security, issues relating to access control and how to secure school premises are an active discussion for many.

Here are some measures to increase security without interfering with school activities.

Security Risk Assessment

A security risk assessment is essential to secure school premises. It’s ideal to perform one once every year. The assessment evaluates past security breaches or incidents to analyze the response and identify areas for improvement.

Hire Experienced Security

Have security on-site to handle any potential vulnerabilities as they occur. A school does not want to wait for law enforcement intervention or for remote security to arrive. Have a security professional there and ready to act.

Digital ID Management

Create digital profiles for students, staff, and visitors. Centralize this information in a secure storage solution. Combine these digital IDs with access controls to enhance security in your school.

Visitor Badges

Give visitors an ID badge and encourage them to sign in/out. ID badges notify staff and faculty that an authorized visitor has arrived. A person without an ID badge is an immediate sign that something’s wrong.

Weapon Detection Technology

AI-based weapon detection technology is designed to detect concealed weapons in an instant. Through cameras, sensors, and other features, weapon detection systems can be employed in a school. These security solutions for schools can identify weapons faster than human personnel can.

Install Panic Buttons

Place panic buttons in key areas throughout the school, connecting them to notification systems for law enforcement or security teams. Panic buttons should be placed in classrooms, offices, and gathering areas to ensure immediate alerts can be sent out.

Video Surveillance Systems

State-of-the-art video surveillance can help monitor and control school premises: target entrances, gathering spaces, and parking lots. Evaluate your school for other high-risk areas that may benefit from the presence of cameras.

Control Parking Lot Access

Assign parking permits to staff and visitors. Ensure no unauthorized vehicles are on school grounds and reserve the parking lot for approved parties only. As mentioned, video surveillance in this area and adding proper lighting coverage are other ways to deter criminal behaviour.

Security Awareness Training

Provide staff with security awareness training to understand best practices for securing school premises. Protect your premises by ensuring that staff and teachers support strong security protocols.

Electronic Door Locks

Implement a system of automated electronic door locks that can be controlled remotely. During school hours, ensure doors are locked so that no one can enter through unauthorized means without walking through the front door.

Strong Locks on All Doors

Even if you do not have electronic locks, replace old ones with newer, secure door hardware and locking systems. During school hours, manually lock these doors and designate a single entrance/exit.

Guard Door Keys

Any keys to the school should be closely guarded and not readily passed out. When keys are lost, they should be reported, and the locks changed.

Secure Windows

Windows are an often-forgotten part of securing a school. Just as with your doors, windows should be equipped with secure locks. In high-risk schools, windows at the ground level should have additional security, such as mesh or steel bars.

Social Media Monitoring

Tools exist to monitor social media mentions of a school and/or the surrounding community. Monitor potential threats and identify risks before they materialize. This can be done automatically or through AI, flagging content for security teams or law enforcement personnel to review.

Perimeter Fencing & Lighting

Keep perimeter fencing in good repair. If there are vulnerabilities, repair them. This is an important security investment if you do not have perimeter fencing.

Ensure adequate lighting in and outside your school to keep hiding areas to a minimum. Visibility wards off criminal activity and deters potential security breaches.

Drones to Patrol School Grounds

Consider launching a drone to patrol school grounds effectively from a bird’s-eye’ s-eye view. A drone can move sight unseen and detect unusual activity in real time, alerting staff when hazards are present.

Establish a School Safety Committee

Keep up to date with your safety protocols. Form a team of concerned staff, parents, and students to share perspectives, review security incidents, and debate current policies. A school safety committee ensures your security is kept to the highest standard.

Autonomous Tips

It’s impossible to guarantee that school premises are fully secure, with hundreds of students and individuals making their way onto the premises authorized daily. Set up a platform for students and staff to report concerns anonymously, identifying suspicious behaviour in real-time from those who have already gained access to school grounds and who may be a threat.

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