Felixstowe International College

Walking to School Policy

Policy

Felixstowe International College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of students and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.Felixstowe International College strives to provide a secure and safe environment where all students will feel happy. All the students at Felixstowe International College are from overseas, and they are used to cars driving on the right hand side of the road. It is always our expectation that students will choose to comply with policies and procedures whilst travelling to the College. This policy is written to ensure that when students walk to College they have been advised of the correct procedures to keep themselves safe.

After reviewing our policy, and after discussion amongst the house staff and teaching staff, it has been decided that from September 2017, no cycling will be allowed.

Procedure

  1. On arrival at the Boarding House, the House Mother gives all the students a practical induction on road safety. She accompanies them into Felixstowe and shows the students how pelican/zebra crossings work, and what would be considered safe places to cross. Whatever age the students are they are taught the principles of the ‘Green Cross Code’. Students are also told that they must not use ipods/mobile phones as they walk along, as they cannot hear traffic and can be distracted.
  2. Students walk from the boarding accommodation to the Garrison Lane site every day, and back again. Students are told that they must not walk to school alone, and should walk in groups of two or three. Students walk a specific route, and are not allowed to deviate from this route. It is the quickest and safest route, is well lit and is direct. Maps are in the boarding house and main school showing the route, and staff check regularly to ensure that the route is being followed by all students.
  3. In bad weather, e.g. strong winds, heavy rain or heavy snow the House Parents will make a decision if the weather is too severe for the students to walk. They will announce at breakfast for the students to stay at the boarding house, and then call the Deputy Principal who will assess/arrange transport, if necessary. The same will apply if the weather is severe during the day, and if necessary the students will go home early.
  4. A new policy on registration has been introduced. House parents take registration in the morning before the students leave, and again registration takes place when they arrive at school. If any student is ill, or is going to be late, the house parent informs the school The same system of registration takes place on the return to the house after school.
  5. The Deputy Principal monitors the routes being taken on a monthly basis.
  6. The Police Community Support Officer attends assembly at regular intervals to remind the students of the dangers as pedestrians. She reiterated the danger of having ear/head phones on whilst walking to College and of using a phone whilst walking. This message is reinforced at assemblies and by house staff.
  7. Students are instructed never to get into the cars of strangers, or even people they know without permission or agreement from a senior member of staff. Students are told that they are only allowed into the cars of staff members who have a current DBS, a full driving licence, covered by our Marsh (HSBC) Car Insurance Policy, and have been requested to by the Principal, Deputy Principals or House Mother.
  8. When it is necessary for the school to use taxis, e.g. to and from the airport, a taxi firm called ‘Classical Touch’ is used where every driver has an enhanced DBS check, all the drivers are ex-police officers and all have completed the Advanced Driving Certificate.

Drawn up by Deputy Principal

September 2017

Review September 2018