Health and Safety in Schools: Duties for MATS & Individual Schools

Studies have shown that roughly ⅕ of childhood injuries happen at school. Health and safety in schools should be a priority for all staff members, but compliance with health and safety legislation in schools should be enforced year-round by senior employers.

As per the Department of Education (DfE) Health and Safety for Schools guidelines, schools must appoint a competent person to ensure they meet HSE requirements. Throughout this blog, we will explain: 

• What health and safety legislation in schools is
• Who is impacted by health and safety in schools 
• What your school health and safety policy should look like 
• How iAM Compliant can help you streamline health and safety in schools compliance

Let’s dive in!

Health & Safety Legislation in Schools

Remaining compliant with health and safety laws and legislation is vital to your school or MAT’s success. It encourages the safety of staff and pupils, reduces workplace accidents and even contributes to your overall Ofsted rating. 

In addition to meeting DfE Health and Safety in Schools standards, implementing appropriate safety measures ensures compliance with The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999). These guidelines ensure employers perform robust safety risk assessments and health surveillance to provide adequate information about hazards and preventative measures.

Who is Impacted by Health & Safety in Schools?

In 2024, HSE reported 1.7 million workers suffering from work-related illness, highlighting the importance of a vigorous health and safety policy in schools for both workers and students. Health and safety policy impacts everyone in your school or Multi-Academy Trust, including: 

• Students - Health and safety regulations aim to protect children during class time, playtime, school trips and extracurricular school activities. 

• Staff - This includes education staff, teachers, administrators and any other school staff.
  
  
• Visitors - Parents, guest speakers, contractors and anyone on school grounds should all be considered in daily health and safety protocols.

Who is Responsible for Health & Safety in Schools?

HSE guidelines place accountability for school health and safety with the employer, delegating daily upkeep to the head teacher and school management team. However, DfE guidelines specify that schools must appoint a competent person to ensure that health and safety duties are met.

The table below provides all the information you need on the responsibilities of a competent person, considerations when appointing one and how to appoint one within your school or MAT:

School Health and Safety Policy 

To remain compliant with health and safety legislation in schools and ensure necessary duties are completed, every school or MAT must have an effective health and safety policy. Every school health and safety policy must have:

• General Statement - A clear and concise directive for health and safety management.
• Delegation of Tasks - Identifying what tasks there are and who is responsible for them.
• School Risk Assessment - Procedures for identifying common risks and hazards and implementing control measures.
• Monitoring Measures - Clear guidelines for accident reporting and 'near miss' logging.

When creating your school health and safety policy, it is important to incorporate the 4 C’s of health and safety:

Health and Safety Policy in Schools Checklist

A comprehensive health and safety policy will differ from school to school, as it must be proportionate and relevant to the institution. 

Below, we have created a health and safety checklist, covering main elements of a school health and safety policy to ensure compliance with DfE and HSE guidelines:

Health and Safety Training for Schools

Ensuring your staff receive the appropriate health and safety training for schools can be time-consuming and difficult to oversee. At iAM Compliant, we have been simplifying health and safety compliance for Schools and MATs for over a decade.

With packages starting from just £3 a day, you can ensure compliance with HSE regulations across your school, encouraging your staff to prioritise health and safety in the classroom and beyond.

Here’s how our web-based compliance tool can transform your school or MAT: 

• 300+ IOSH-Approved & CPD-Accredited Courses - Monitor your employees with detailed staff training records while supporting their development. 

• Good Estates Management - See what needs repairing at a glance, provide building-condition reports and monitor asset management. 

• Forecast Future Funding - Easily monitor energy usage and other costs to save money and budget accordingly. 

• Stay Compliant - Ensure compliance with DfE and HSE legal requirements with our Policy Compliance feature. 

• Incident Recording - Keep a record of accidents, hazard observations and ‘near misses’ with our digital accident book. 

• Document Tracking - Upload, store, send reminders and record all staff signatures on important documentation.

Simplify Health and Safety in Schools with iAM Compliant!

Managing health and safety at school doesn’t have to be complicated. With iAM Compliant’s intuitive, award-winning compliance tool, schools and MATs can effortlessly stay on top of health and safety legislation, streamline their school health and safety policy and ensure staff receive the training they need. 

From document tracking to incident reporting and training compliance, we make it easy to meet your legal duties while creating a safe environment and protecting your wider school community. 

Take the stress out of health and safety compliance - book your FREE demo today and discover how iAM Compliant can support your school!