Deaths in Southport underscore the need for school safety

The tragic deaths of three children during a stabbing over the summer have highlighted the need for extra security measures at an East Lothian primary school, councillors were told this week.

Parents of St. Gabriel's RC Primary in Prestonpans had submitted a petition to the local council calling for a higher fence and a lockable gate for their school.

But even though the petition, which was signed by 334 people and 29 other online signatories, was submitted before the tragic murders in Southport, the council's Petitions Committee was told at a meeting that it was merely in support of causes.

Diane Brash, representing a parent group at the school, said: “Our biggest concern is safety. We started this petition in the summer holidays before the incident in Southport, but that only highlighted the need for a fence and lockable gate around the school grounds.”

The Petitions Committee was told the request was not a complaint against the council or the school. Mrs Brash said the school was very popular in the community and that its staff and work with families was valued by parents.

However, she said incidents of vandalism on school grounds, dog fouling on sports fields and a break-in over the holidays had all highlighted the need for additional security measures.

She said at yesterday's meeting that there had been another incident of anti-social behaviour at the school just the day before.

She said: “Students from another school came in and when they were asked to leave by staff, they were verbally abused and stones were thrown at them.

“We as a group of parents believe that it is not safe for our children.”

Infrastructure manager Tom Reid told the committee that officials were conducting a review of the entire school site, which began several months ago, and the results could be presented to a council meeting in the coming months.

And he said security at St Gabriel's met the standards set out in the Cullen report, which looked into the issue after the Dunblane massacre in 1996, when 16 pupils and a teacher were killed by a gunman who burst into their primary school.

Mr Reid said the exterior of the building, as well as the entrance and lobby, were secured and the outdoor areas were covered by video surveillance cameras.

He said, “As far as the school district is concerned, we have been working on this for five to six months. A report is currently being prepared that will be released in the next four to six weeks that will provide an update on the condition of the entire school district and any issues that need to be investigated.”

“The cost of fencing a single primary school, let alone all of them, is incredibly high and there is no funding for this in the current investment plan.”

Nicola McDowell, the council's head of education, said adults patrolled school playgrounds when pupils were outside, adding: “I want to reassure everyone that safety and security are in place here. There are at least four adults in the playground every day, as well as the headteacher and his deputy.”

“There is a secure access system to the school, there is video surveillance in the playground and a camera that is triggered when something is happening behind the school.”

The committee unanimously rejected the motion on the understanding that a report on the results of the full review of the school site, including St Gabriel's, would be presented to councillors.

The audit report is expected to be presented to the Council's Education Committee in November.

By Marie Sharp, local reporter for democracy

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