This week pupils and staff practised our invacuation drill as part of our regular safety checks.. Each half term we drill both our invacuation and our evacuation procedures. It is important that we put procedures in place and plan even for those events that are very unlikely to occur. 

 

What is an invacuation and when would it happen?

An invacuation, sometimes referred to as a lockdown procedure,  is a standard safety procedure, similar to an emergency evacuation/fire drill. This procedure would be used if there is a threat to the safety of pupils, staff and others in  school, and when it’s safer for everyone to remain in the school building rather than evacuate. 
Situations where our invacuation procedure may be used include:

• a potentially dangerous person or dog on the school site
• an alert from the police about a disturbance or dangerous situation in the local community that could affect the school
• a nearby chemical incident or other risk of air pollution
• an incident related to terrorism.

What is the invacuation procedure?

When we initiate the invacuation procedure, everyone in school will be alerted by the sounding of a specific alarm. Staff have been trained to follow procedures and ensure that, as in the case of a fire evacuation, everyone is safe.
During a drill/event pupils will either stay in their classroom, or if outside on the field or artificial pitch, will make there way into the nearest classroom, and wait quietly until the event or drill is given the 'all clear'.