But equally few would argue with the notion that schools in the 21st century also need to be warm, friendly places in which pupils and students feel secure and in which parents and official visitors feel welcomed.
Unfortunately, short of Fort Knox style security, there is little that will stop a determined intruder. But there is one solution to ensure that those who do not follow visitor procedures are noticed.
This involves having a professional visitor pass issued to all visitors who enter the school. The pass immediately highlights anyone who is not wearing one, and it also says to all legitimate visitors that this is a school in which the safety of the pupils and students is of paramount importance.
Such a system needs to have visitor details written into a register, with the information simultaneously copied onto a master sheet and onto a pass that the visitor wears.
Issuing the pass has several other benefits. The visitor pass can be used to carry information as to what to do in an emergency and also ensures that the administrators know exactly who is in the school at any particular moment.
Details of such a system called ‘visitor management passes' can be found in the SG World catalogue.
http://www.theeducationcatalogue.co.uk/
Tel: 01270 588 211
