​The Safer School Policy Statement

Adopted by Market Drayton Junior School

“The school has recognised the link between a successful school, pupil contentment, parent satisfaction, community involvement and the implementation of an effective risk management system.”

Through the risk management system the school intends to establish the safety and security of staff, pupils and their property as a priority. This will be achieved by monitoring activity in and around school in a structured manner. Stakeholders in the school will be fully conversant with the system and will be actively encouraged to make constructive contributions.

The school will undertake to reduce levels of anti-social and/or criminal activity through the accurate recording of incidents with specific details and locations: this will allow preventative actions to be taken in conjunction with all stakeholders.

The school has committed to developing systems which will enable staff and pupils to concentrate on the process of education, secure in the knowledge that the environment in which they are working is as safe as possible”

Safer Schools Survey

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:

1. Implementing a security policy that the governors have adopted.
2. Consulting parents/carers and pupils/students for their views and updating them on any progress.
3. Publicity of Safer Schools to school staff, pupils, school neighbours, parents and prospective parents.
4. Establishing a Safer School Group. This Safer School Group is a partnership of school stakeholders – Headteacher/Deputy, staff, governors, parents, pupils, neighbours, Shropshire Council and West Mercia Police.
5. Regularly reviewing and implementing good practice and essential security/safety measures for staff, pupils, the site and assets.
6. Educating pupils through the Personal, Social, Health and Economic curriculum programme or the Safer School folder.
7. 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.

Results of the Safer School Survey

Thank you very much to everyone who undertook the survey again this year. The results are as follows:

Safer School Meeting

Ian Bartlett, Crime Prevention Officer, sent us this statement after our meeting:

Another excellent Safer School meeting at Market Drayton Junior School.  Safer Schools is a safeguarding, security and safety initiative and as part of the holistic approach, an important aspect is listening to the views of parents/carers and pupils. As previously, Miss Brayne had carried out a Safer School survey prior to the meeting. The feedback from this survey was reassuring, informative and useful but overwhelmingly, it was good. Using this information, it will form part of an action plan and it will be reviewed at the next Safer School meeting, already planned for Summer 2025.

At the meeting, we reviewed security/safety and the changes made since the previous meeting in 2023. Most noticeably, this has included new fencing on the boundary of Alexandra Road and inside the school, an enhanced reception lobby. In addition, we reflected on any issues/concerns and planned for the future. It was reassuring to hear that there had been no recorded incidents of security on the school site in the past 12 months.  Excellent news. 

An updated Safer School certificate was presented to the school in recognition of the school’s responsible approach to security, safety and safeguarding – Congratulations!