The 20-Point SchoolSafe Compliance Scorecard

1. Health & Safety Policy & Responsibilities

Is your health & safety policy current, signed by the employer/proprietor, kept under regular review, and does it clearly define responsibilities and arrangements for managing health & safety?

2. Competent Advice & Capacity

Does the school have access to competent health & safety advice, with sufficient internal or external capacity to manage its key risks and compliance responsibilities effectively?

3. Governance & Senior Leadership Assurance

Do senior leaders and governors/trustees receive proportionate health & safety and estate-compliance assurance, including significant risks, incidents, outstanding actions and areas requiring investment or escalation?

4. Compliance Actions & Evidence

Is there a reliable system for recording statutory/compliance checks, assigning actions, monitoring deadlines and retaining evidence that remedial work has been completed?

5. Risk Assessment Management

Are suitable risk assessments in place for significant activities and hazards, communicated to relevant staff and reviewed when they may no longer be valid or circumstances materially change?

6. Training & Competence

Does the school identify the health & safety training and competence required for different roles, provide appropriate training, and maintain evidence that staff remain competent for the work they undertake?

7. Incident, Accident & RIDDOR Management

Are accidents, incidents and near misses recorded consistently, appropriately investigated and reviewed for trends, with potentially reportable events assessed against RIDDOR requirements?

8. Medical, First Aid & Allergy Arrangements

Are first-aid, medication, individual healthcare and allergy arrangements suitable for the needs of pupils and staff, with appropriate plans, equipment, information and trained personnel available?

9. Fire Risk Assessment & Action Management

Is there a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment covering the premises, kept under review, with identified actions prioritised, assigned and tracked to completion?

10. Fire Precautions, Systems & Maintenance

Are fire alarms, emergency lighting, fire-fighting equipment, fire doors, escape routes and other fire precautions appropriately inspected, tested, maintained and recorded?

11. Evacuation & Emergency Arrangements

Are emergency procedures understood and practised, with suitable evacuation arrangements for pupils, staff, visitors and anyone who may require additional assistance?

12. Business Continuity & Premises Emergencies

Are arrangements in place for significant premises or safety emergencies, including escalation, communication, competent support and continuity of critical school activities?

13. Asbestos Management

Where asbestos may be present, is there a suitable asbestos management survey/register and management plan, with the condition of asbestos-containing materials monitored and relevant information provided before maintenance or intrusive work?

14. Legionella & Water Hygiene

Is there a suitable legionella risk assessment and control scheme, with a competent responsible person, required monitoring completed and records/actions kept under review?

15. Electrical & Gas Safety

Are electrical installations/equipment and gas systems/appliances maintained safely, with appropriate inspection/testing, competent contractors and evidence that identified defects are addressed?

16. Plant, Work Equipment & Statutory Examinations

Is there an up-to-date register of relevant plant and work equipment, with required maintenance, inspections and statutory thorough examinations completed by competent persons and defects acted upon?

17. Contractor & Project Management

Are contractors selected and managed proportionately to the work and risk, with competence, insurance, RAMS and relevant safety information reviewed, and are construction projects managed in accordance with applicable CDM duties?

18. COSHH & Hazardous Substances

Are hazardous substances identified and assessed, exposure risks appropriately controlled, storage and use managed safely, and relevant staff provided with information, instruction and training?

19. Educational Visits & Off-Site Activities

Are educational visits and off-site activities risk managed and approved in accordance with the employer's arrangements, with suitable competence, planning and oversight?

20. Site Safety, Security & Workplace Arrangements

Are day-to-day premises risks such as access/egress, traffic movements, grounds, security, slips/trips, building defects and workplace conditions routinely identified, monitored and acted upon?