At Thomas Gainsborough School, we regularly review our safety procedures to ensure we are prepared for a range of situations, however unlikely they may be.
As part of this, we have clear procedures for what we call a Lockdown or Safety Shutdown. These are simply additional precautions that help us keep everyone safe should an incident occur either within the school or in the surrounding community.
We want to reassure families that there is currently no known threat to our school. Sharing this information is part of our normal approach to keeping our school community informed and prepared.
What is the difference?
Safety Shutdown
A Safety Shutdown may be introduced if the police advise us to keep students and staff inside the school because of an incident in the local area.
During a Safety Shutdown:
• Students and staff remain safely inside school buildings.
• Lessons and normal school activities continue wherever possible.
• Students remain supervised by staff.
• Entry to and exit from the school site are temporarily restricted.
• Families are kept informed through our usual communication channels.
A Safety Shutdown is a precautionary measure and does not necessarily mean there is any direct threat to the school.
Lockdown
A Lockdown is a more significant safety procedure that may be used if there is an immediate concern about safety on or near the school site.
During a Lockdown:
• Students and staff move to the nearest safe indoor space.
• Staff secure rooms and follow our established safety procedures.
• Students remain with staff, following their instructions.
• Everyone stays in their designated safe area until it is confirmed that normal activities can resume.
Our staff are trained to respond calmly and follow clear procedures, with the safety and wellbeing of students at the centre of every decision.
How will we communicate with families?
If either procedure is introduced, we will aim to inform families as soon as it is safe and practical to do so.
Updates will be shared through:
• Email to parents and carers.
• Our school website: www.tgschool.net
We will provide further information as appropriate and confirm when normal school arrangements can resume.
What should parents and carers do?
In the unlikely event of a Lockdown or Safety Shutdown, we would ask families to:
• Remain calm and follow official school communications.
• Avoid coming to the school to collect your child unless specifically instructed to do so.
• Avoid calling the school unnecessarily, as our staff may need to keep telephone lines available for essential
communication.
• Reassure your child that these procedures are designed to keep everyone safe.
We understand that receiving a message about a school safety procedure may naturally cause concern. Please be assured
that we will always prioritise the safety of students and staff and communicate with families as clearly and promptly as circumstances allow.
How do we prepare students?
Just as schools practise fire evacuations, it is important that we also practise other safety procedures.
We will:
• Talk students through the procedures in an age-appropriate and reassuring way during tutor time.
• Ensure staff are familiar with their responsibilities.
• Carry out a planned practice drill during the school year.
• Review our procedures regularly to ensure they remain effective.
We will let families know in advance when our next planned drill will take place.
The purpose of these exercises is not to cause worry, but to help everyone understand what to do and feel confident should we ever need to use these procedures.
Thank you for your continued support in helping us maintain a safe and positive environment for everyone at Thomas Gainsborough School