The school’s Directors and Headmaster recognise and accept their responsibilities under law As responsible employers and/or persons in control of premises, the requirement to provide a safe and healthy working environment for all employees and others affected by its activities is acknowledged.

The school is committed to managing risks by ensuring that risk assessments are undertaken, control measures implemented and systems are continuously monitored and reviewed led by the school’s Directors and Headmaster.

In particular the Directors and Headmaster are responsible for:

providing a safe and healthy working and learning environment and ensuring that the premises are maintained in a safe condition;
maintaining safe access to and egress from the premises;
preventing accidents and work related ill health;
assessing and controlling risks from curriculum and non-curriculum work activities including off site visits;
complying with statutory requirements as a minimum;
ensuring safe working methods and providing safe equipment;
providing effective information, instruction and training;
monitoring and reviewing systems to make sure they are effective;
developing and maintaining a positive health and safety culture through communication and consultation with employees and their representatives on health and safety matters;
setting targets and objectives to develop a culture of continuous improvement;
ensuring a healthy working environment is maintained including adequate welfare facilities;
ensuring adequate resources are made available for health and safety issues, so far as is reasonably practicable;
ensuring safe use, handling and storage of substances at work.

In addition to the above commitment, the Directors and Headmaster also recognise their obligations to non-employees and provide trainees, members of the public, pupils, contractors, etc, or anyone who is or may be affected by the schools activities with the necessary information, instruction, training and supervision available to ensure the safety of those affected.

The Directors and Headmaster will ensure adequate resources, including finance to implement the Policy.

The Directors and Headmaster are committed to this Policy and all staff are required to comply. They are encouraged to support the Directors and Headmaster’s commitment to continuous improvement in the schools health and safety performance. For the Policy Document to be effectively implemented, the school requires the full co‑operation of employees and others who use the premises.

This Policy Statement and the accompanying organisation and arrangements will be reviewed at least annually and revised as and when necessary.

This Policy Statement, together with the organisational structure and the following arrangements and procedures, has been approved by the school’s Proprietor.

Signed:

Headmaster’s name:

Mr Thomas Dawson

Date:

PART TWO - ORGANISATION

Organisation – Introduction.

In order to achieve compliance with the Directors and Headmaster’s Statement of Intent the school’s normal management structure will have additional responsibilities assigned to them as detailed in this part of this Policy Document.

The Duties of the Directors

The Directors have overall responsibility for ensuring compliance with this Safety Policy Document. In consultation with the Headmaster and the Bursar, the Directors will ensure that there are effective and enforceable arrangements for the provision of health and safety throughout the school, periodically assessing the effectiveness of this document ensuring that any necessary revisions are made to determine the policy and monitor its implementation.

The Duties of the Headmaster

The Headmaster has day-to-day responsibility for ensuring compliance with this Safety Policy Document. In consultation with the Directors the Headmaster will ensure that there are effective and enforceable arrangements for the provision of health and safety throughout the school, periodically assessing the effectiveness of this document ensuring that any necessary revisions are made to determine the policy and monitor its implementation. The Headmaster will maintain the profile of health and safety within the school by the development of safe working practices and conditions and will ensure that health and safety standards are maintained at all times.

The Duties of Bursar

The Bursar has a day to day responsibility for ensuring compliance with the School Safety Policy and taking effective action and/or immediately referring to the Headmaster any health and safety issues brought to their attention, this includes the stopping of any practices or the use of any tools, equipment etc which are considered unsafe. The Bursar will maintain the profile of health and safety within the school by the development of safe working practices and conditions and will ensure that health and safety standards are maintained at all times.

The Duties of Teaching Staff

Teaching Staff have a day to day responsibility for ensuring compliance with this Safety Policy Document and ensuring all persons under their control are aware of the general health and safety requirements of the school and the detailed requirements for activities relevant to them. Teachers are responsible for the immediate safety of the pupils in his/her classroom. Nominated teachers are responsible for their own classroom and associated equipment and as such it is their responsibility to ensure that it is maintained to a high standard with respect to health and safety issues.

The Duties of Employees

All employees have individual legal responsibilities to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and for others who may be affected by their acts or omissions, and must comply with the school's Health and Safety Policy Document and procedures at all times, cooperate with school management in complying with relevant health and safety law, use all work equipment and substances in accordance with instruction, training and information received, report to their immediate line manager any hazardous situations and defects in equipment found in their workplaces, report all incidents in line with current incident reporting procedure, act in accordance with any specific health and safety training received, inform their Line Manager of what they consider to be shortcomings in the school’s health and safety arrangements and exercise good standards of housekeeping and cleanliness.

The Duties of Pupils

Pupils, in accordance with their age and aptitude, are expected to exercise personal responsibility for the health and safety of themselves and others, observe standards of dress consistent with safety and/or hygiene, observe all the health and safety rules of the school and in particular the instructions of staff given in an emergency, use and not wilfully misuse, neglect or interfere with anything provided for their health and safety.

The Duties of Temporary / Peripatetic Staff

Temporary / Peripatetic staff are provided with information and guidance which includes the Health and Safety Policy Document, Fire and Emergency Procedures etc. and are suitably inducted to their role. Temporary / Peripatetic staff are directly accountable to the Headmaster whilst on the school site.

Volunteer and Parent Helpers

Volunteer and parent helpers are provided with information and guidance which includes health and safety, fire and emergency procedures etc. Volunteer and parent helpers are directly accountable to the teacher in charge whilst on the school site.

PART THREE - ARRANGEMENTS

Arrangements

The following procedures and arrangements have been established within the school to minimise health and safety risks to an acceptable level.

Communication

The school recognises the importance of communication to such as staff, visitors, pupils, parents, volunteers, contractors etc:

The Headmaster and the Bursar will ensure that Health and Safety is an agenda item on every SMT meeting and also every weekly Staff meeting.

All visitors to the school are supervised where possible and are made aware of any Health and Safety Issues

Consultation with Employees

The school recognises the importance of consulting with employees on health and safety matters.

All staff will be kept up to date of any Health and Safety issues as and when they occur.

Section 1 – Risk Assessments

Risk Assessment

The school uses a risk assessment process and template as a standard for risk assessment and those of relevant professional bodies such as CLEAPPS/AfPE etc. Risk assessment is the responsibility of the Schools Management Team at a variety of levels. Those responsible for premises or curriculum areas ensure that risk assessments are undertaken and recorded for significant activities. Risk assessments are reviewed periodically or where there is a change in circumstances.

Curriculum Safety (including extended schools activity/study support)

Heads of Departments ensure that risks related to curriculum areas are identified and controlled following the National Guidelines such as CLEAPSS. For any activity falling outside of National Guidance a risk assessment is carried out. An inventory of all equipment is kept by the Departmental Heads and all tools/equipment/machinery are checked, maintained and stored correctly.Potentially dangerous chemicals and /or equipment have a separate risk assessment and are stored in a locked area away from pupils.

School Trips/Off Site Visits

The school complies with DFE Guidance on off site visits and school journeys. A separate school trips procedure has been produced.

School Transport

Risks associated with driving are covered within the separate Minibus policy which covers the arrangements for all transporting of pupils.

Manual Handling (typical loads and handling pupils)

Risks of manual handling are communicated within general risk assessment.Any activities that involve significant manual handling tasks are risk assessed and where appropriate training provided for staff.

Working at Height

The risks associated with working at height are identified through risk assessment. Frequent documented checks take place to ensure the safe working condition of access equipment. Procedures are in place to ensure any damaged access equipment is clearly labelled and removed as soon as practicable. The school discusses and agrees arrangements with staff. Where members of staff have pre-existing medical conditions or other factors which may affect their ability to use access equipment, a separate risk assessment is in place. Staff also have a responsibility to ensure their own health and safety and assist in the operation of any systems designed to provide for their safety.

Noise

The school is aware of their responsibility for assessing the risks of noise and where noise is identified as a significant risk the school ensures appropriate control measures are put in place.

Violence to Staff

The school are aware of their responsibility for assessing the risks of violence to staff and where violence is identified as a significant risk the school ensures appropriate control measures are put in place. Staff report any incident of aggression or violence (or near misses) directed to themselves through the reporting process.

Security Arrangements Including Dealing with Intruders

Risks to security of the premises and property are assessed through the risk assessment process and separate policies are in place.

Hazardous Substances (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health CoSHH)

Where hazardous substances are used a designated employee carries out risk assessments and adopts a hierarchy of control measures seeking to eliminate or substitute the risk first and foremost. There are separate risk assessments for Science DT and Art. The Catering department also has its own separate details for all substances.

Personal Protective Equipment

Employees/Managers assess on the basis of risk assessment and CoSHH assessments where the need for PPE is identified as a control measure. Where it is assessed that PPE is required PPE is appropriately selected and provided. A record is held which includes details of any expiry dates to ensure equipment is replaced as and when necessary. Staff are responsible for ensuring that they use PPE where it is provided.

Display Screen Equipment

The majority of staff within the school are not considered to be DSE users. The Bursar will ensure that DSE workplace assessments are conducted for all users. DSE assessments are reviewed annually and where equipment changes or office layouts change or when there are staff changes.

Playground Supervision/Play Equipment and Maintenance

A risk assessment of the potential hazards in the playground and their likelihood to cause harm has been undertaken and the following have been considered within the risk assessment process

Climbing Frame
Swing
Slide
Dry Playground

Section 2 - PREMISES

Mechanical and Electrical (fixed and portable)

The School takes appropriate measures to make sure that all electrical equipment is safe and suitable for the purpose intended. All relevant persons are made aware of the associated hazards and of the requirements to adopt working procedures designed to keep the risks to their health, and to the health of any other person, as low as reasonably achievable Persons carrying out the testing and/or repair of electrical equipment, or carrying out experimental work on electrical equipment or its associated connections have the appropriate technical knowledge, training and information to enable them to work safely. Results of electrical safety tests (PAT testing and fixed wiring inspections) are recorded and held in the Bursars Office.

Maintenance of Machinery and Equipment

The school inspects and maintains its equipment on a regular basis; however the frequency of these inspections is much dependent on the use and type of equipment.

Service Contractors

Service contractors have regular access to the site as specified by a contract. The service contract specifies what work is expected of them and what they can expect from the school. Contractors follow their own safe systems of work and their working methods take into account how they will impact upon staff, students and other visitors on site. The school provides details of its safe systems of work to the contractors where relevant and all contractors are consulted over emergency arrangements. A copy of this policy is provided to them.

Building Contractors

This involves work where part of the site is handed over to the contractor. Hazards associated with this activity are controlled by effective supervision of students and contractors whilst on the school site.

Small Scale Building Works

This includes day-to-day maintenance work and all work undertaken on site where a pre site meeting has not taken place.

Asbestos

To minimise risk from asbestos containing materials on the school site, the school maintains a safe and healthy environment by:

complying with all regulations concerning the control of asbestos;
removing asbestos containing materials where the risk to building users is unacceptable;
having a named officer who has responsibility for implementing the Asbestos Management Plan.
where necessary communicating to all staff and visitors where asbestos containing materials are located within the school site.
The full survey is in the Bursar's office.

Lettings

The school ensures that the hirer/tenant has public liability insurance in place in order to indemnify the school from all such hirer’s/tenant’s claims arising from negligence. If any part of the school is let, the Headmaster is satisfied via the agreement that the hiring organisation will use the premises in a safe manner. A signed, written letting agreement is completed and copies are kept and a risk assessment has been undertaken.

Slips/Trips/Falls

The school recognises the main cause of accidents is slips, trips and falls. It is the responsibility of the teacher to ensure that their classroom has clear traffic routes and that exit routes are kept clear. The responsible person ensures regular inspection of communal areas. All hazards, obstructions, spillages, defects or maintenance requirements are reported to the Bursar via an email. All staff are expected to be vigilant and aware of possible hazards.

Cleaning

A cleaning schedule is in place which is monitored by the Bursar. All waste is disposed of according to appropriate health and safety guidelines. Deep cleaning is undertaken on a regular basis where necessary. The school ensures general cleanliness, appropriate waste disposal, safe stacking and storage and the checking of general equipment such as ladders etc. All members of staff and students adopt good housekeeping practices to assist in the maintenance of a safe and healthy workplace.

Transport Arrangements (on-site)

The school segregate access traffic, vehicular and vulnerable pedestrians and cyclists and design out vehicular and vulnerable traffic route conflicts, both at access points and on site. The school wherever possible avoids the same access for all.

Bus Duties (supervision of pupils boarding school buses)

This is covered within the separate policy

Caretaking and Grounds Maintenance (and grounds safety)

The school identifies risks associated with caretaking and grounds maintenance and identifies the risks through the risk assessment process.

Infectious Diseases

The school follows the National Guidance produced by the Health Protection Agency, which is summarised on the poster, ‘Guidance on infection Control in Schools and other Childcare Settings’ which is in the dispensary.

Dealing with Medical Conditions

The school accommodates pupils with medical needs wherever practicable and makes reference to DFE circular - Supporting Pupils with Medical Needs in School which sets out the legal framework for the health and safety of pupils and staff. Responsibility for pupils’ safety is clearly defined within individual care plans where necessary and each person involved with pupils with medical needs is aware of what is expected of them. Close cooperation between schools, parents, health professionals and other agencies help provide a suitably supportive environment for those pupils with special needs.

Drug Administration

The school accommodates pupils with medical needs wherever practicable and makes reference to DFE Guidance Managing Medicines in Schools and Early Years Settings. Parents have prime responsibility for their child’s health and provide the school with information about their child’s medical condition. Parents obtain details from their child’s General Practitioner (GP) or Paediatrician, if needed. The school nurse and specialist voluntary bodies provide additional background information for staff.

First Aid

The school follows the statutory requirements for first aid and provides suitably trained first aid staff.

Reporting of Accidents, Hazards, Near Misses

All staff are encouraged to report accidents, incidents and near misses and line managers investigate such incidents and identify and implement means to prevent a recurrence.

Fire Safety and Emergency Evacuation

A risk assessment has been carried out and a safety management plan is in place

Crisis and Emergency Management

A Crisis Management Team is in place to assist in the reduction of the consequences of major hazards and risks and to action a recovery plan in the event of a serious accident. The Team acts as the decision-making influence for the management of an incident. Procedures and practices are in place for handling emergency situations and communicating these to all staff. All necessary equipment is available for rapid activation during an emergency which includes communications equipment, emergency plans and procedures, a log to record all actions taken during the crisis, necessary office equipment and supplies and appropriate building plans.

PART 4 - MONITORING AND REVIEW

Monitoring

Arrangements are monitored and reviewed annually and revised as new topics arise that may affect the process of managing health and safety for staff, pupils, contractors and other visitors

Inspections

Regular safety inspections are carried out by the nominated person/s All hazards and risks associated with the premises/departments/grounds are monitored and controlled.

Review

The School has mechanisms for undertaking active monitoring and review of health and safety which includes an arrangement of periodic planned health and safety checks of each section of the school, supplemented by various ‘ad hoc’ and un-planned checks and inspections.

Auditing

As a means of confirming that the necessary systems to comply with legislation are in place and are being followed, the school ensures a complete health and safety audit by competent persons. The action points identified through the audit form part of the school development plan.

Staff Health and Safety Training/Competence

The school is committed to ensuring that staff are competent to undertake the roles expected of them. The Headmaster/Heads of Department undertake a training needs analysis to identify the competency requirements of specific job roles in terms of health and safety, and ensure that appropriate training is delivered and training records held centrally. The training need analysis is reviewed on a regular basis or on the introduction of new legislation.

Pregnant Members of Staff

The Staff Room has rest facilities for expectant and nursing mothers. Members of staff who are pregnant are required to inform the school in writing so that an appropriate risk assessment of their work routines can be carried out.

Health and Well Being Including Absence Management

The school endeavours to promote a culture of cooperation, trust and mutual respect and ensure good management practices are in place and staff have access to competent advice. Staff also have access to an independent listener.

Smoking on Site

Smoking on site is only allowed in the designated smoking area.

Environmental Compliance

The school seeks to fulfil its waste management objectives through: using only what is needed; seeking alternatives where possible; recycling as much as practicable; disposing of as little as necessary.

Disposal of Waste

All waste classified as ‘hazardous’ is collected by specialist firms and disposed of in the approved manner.

Catering and Food Hygiene

The catering department has in place a food hygiene management system and competent health and safety advice.

Information

The school obtains advice from external sources for any health and Safety issues that it cannot solve internally.

Revised 21/02/2022 AJT

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