26 May 2017
The Department of Education has high expectations for safety in every school. Regular, rigorous checks are conducted of every school's processes and practices to ensure that schools comply with DoE expectations.
Every school has clear precautions for any situation that may be a risk to students and staff, and there are specific plans for each school. Our campus is consistently rated as being exceptional and therefore we are rated as being safe, inclusive and respectful because of the precautions and processes we have in place. All students and staff are trained in all aspects for these precautions. We hold regular practice runs of many processes which often go unnoticed by students since they are simply a part of what we do as a campus.
Schools do not publicise their precautions beyond the school grounds since that can be counterproductive in ensuring the safety of all on site.
Social media including texts, Facebook and the like can be counterproductive in managing these precautions and have in many cases have created more risk and extended the time that the precautions stay in place. The rumour mill is not helpful, building confusion and panic. We therefore expect that all students and staff will not use mobile devices at the time unless directed by the principal to do so.
When and if precautions have to be used because of a potential risk, the campus follows its processes and as such ensures that all students and staff are safe. Those processes include:
- informing parents and carers that precautions have been put in place to ensure that students and staff not at risk of harm, and
- briefing students about any need to use precautions as soon as possible.
If precautions need to be used at the end of a school day students and staff are debriefed at the beginning of the next day. If precautions need to be used during the day, students and staff are debriefed before they leave school that day.
Where students or staff require additional support as a result of the precautions being put in place, such support is made available through the school and the department.
Be assured that we, along with every school, see student safety as our highest priority. We act accordingly and appreciate your support for our work in this area.