Building Evacuation

To facilitate this activity successfully certain procedures should already be in place.

 A portable register of pupils (updated at the beginning of each lesson) should be available.

 All teaching staff will have registered in the process of collecting their keys at the janitor’s office. Complete and accurate lists will be made available and up-dated as required.

 A separate sheet will be available for supply staff, visitors and trades people.

 Ancillary staff/ Fuel Zone staff must also register in and out.

 Staff should be aware of the nearest fire exit. This extends to any part of the school in which they find themselves. The direction of the exits is clearly marked with a green sign with a white arrow or white “walking person”.

 The assembly area on the pitch will be clearly marked for each year group.

 There will be an assembly point for all staff who do not have young people in their care and other adults.

 Up to 2 fire drills will take place each year, the first being before the end of August. The complete evacuation of the building will be timed and evaluated. A report will be made to staff.

Fire doors must never be held open with wedges, bins, chairs etc. Even the flimsiest door can keep fire at bay for 15 minutes. Breaching this instruction could result in disciplinary procedure.

Staff are responsible for the pupils who were in their class prior to the alarm being sounded. The whole class must stay together so that positive safety checks can be made once the group is assembled in the playing fields.

Each teacher is responsible for his/her teaching area and should check any area which may have been occupied on the way out, circumstances permitting. On exit, isolation taps for gas and electricity should be turned off. As the room is vacated, each door should be closed, not locked.

Unattended pupils e.g. pupils at the toilet or waiting for SMT, will make their way out of the school by the nearest exit and re-join their class at the assembly area, on the playing fields.

SMT will each be in charge of specific areas on the playing fields to confirm safe evacuation.

Staff will avoid general conversation with SMT (e.g. re the validity of fire alarm) while they are checking the safety of everyone. Their job must be done quickly and effectively to give it credibility.

Nothing should be stored in corridors and exit routes must be kept clear of coats, bags, portable equipment or furniture at all times. This will allow speedy and safe evacuation.

Glass panels on classroom doors must be kept free of covering.

Pupils must also be acquainted with the procedure, both verbally and in practice. The information contained in this document must also be made known to all people using the building – either verbally to those visitors who are in the school for a short time, or by issuing this document to all supply staff.

The fire alarm is tested at 0900hrs on a Friday morning. No evacuation is required.

Staff must assume that any fire alarm is a warning of impending danger. Staff and pupils must:

  • take it seriously.
  • use the nearest exit.
  • evacuate the building in a safe and orderly manner.
  • resist collecting bags or coats.
  • look out for pupils who may have got separated from their class group and direct them to the appropriate area.
  • assemble together in year group areas in the playing fields to re-check attendance of pupils against paper register.
  • staff without pupils should make themselves known to the SMT member in charge of registering their exit from the building and be on general supervisory duties.
  • use the nearest alternative exit should the official route be impassable.
  • remain in the assembly area (the playing fields) until a formal invitation by SMT to return to the building is made.

Outwith class period times i.e. before school, after school and during break and lunch times, everyone should make their way to the assembly area and gather in Tutor Groups with tutor teachers who will account for as many people as possible. As before, remaining staff will be on general supervisory duties.

ESCAPE ROUTE / AREAS AFFECTED
Main entrance to Rhymer Street / Assembly hall (inc. PE classes)
Pastoral Care Base
EAL Rooms
Art Rooms
The two English rooms nearest the atrium.
Exit at bottom of staircase of the administration block to Rhymer Street / The school office
Science rooms
Technical rooms
Exit to top of Glenbarr Street / RE room, lower ground floor
Support for Learning Base
Music rooms
English rooms – excluding the rooms nearest the atrium.
Time Out room
Exit to bottom of Glenbarr Street / Maths rooms
Drama rooms
ICT rooms 4 & 5
Second RE room
All Modern Languages rooms
Fitness/PE classroom
Exit near the swimming pool / Social subject rooms (except the one opposite the Fuel Zone staircase)
ICT rooms 1,2 and 3
Swimming Pool
Exit to Garden Area / HIU
Home Economics – food and fabric rooms
Modern Languages base
RE base
Fuel Zone staircase leading to exit near HIU / Social Subjects room (opposite the Fuel Zone staircase)
Gyms
Staff room
Resource centre – by the back exit
Fuel Zone
Social Area
HIU