Fire and Emergency Evacuation Procedure - Main Campus

SCHOOL AIMS:

• To ensure a supportive, happy and secure environment for learning.
• To encourage the physical and emotional well-being of each individual.

RATIONALE:

To provide safe care and protection for all at Discovery Bay International School, it is essential that we have a clear understanding and practice of procedures related to possible emergencies. This policy should be read in conjunction with the Critical Incident Policy.

PURPOSES:

1. To develop a set of safe procedures to be applied in the event of possible emergencies due to Fire.
2. To clarify the roles of all staff at Discovery Bay International School in the event of a Fire.
3. To establish the requirement of regularly practising these procedures.

GUIDELINES:

General

• Examples of a Fire Alarm being sounded include: Fire, bomb threat, explosion, gas, chemical or natural hazard. On Fire Service advice, the assembly area for Primary is the car park adjacent to the football pitch, and the Secondary school assembles on the football pitch.
• An information sheet for students and teachers, along with a clearly marked escape route, is displayed in every classroom and in other designated areas around the school.
• All students should be instructed, by class teachers as appropriate, in the proper escape routes, assembly area, and behaviour. Specifically, students should walk down staircases in silence, accompanied by their teacher where possible, to the assembly point, and line up in register order in class/tutor groups. Staff discovering a fire should assist anybody in immediate danger, evacuate students and raise the alarm. Staff discovering a gas leak should follow the procedures outlined in the “extraordinary circumstances” section of this policy.

Precautions

Rehearsing the procedure regularly is essential. A rehearsed routine will override panic in an emergency situation.

• Corridors and staircases must not be obstructed by bags and other clutter.
• Fire doors are labelled with signs “Fire door to be kept closed”. These signs must be obeyed.

Fire Alarm Procedure

1. The warning signal will be the continued ringing of the bell, or by word of mouth. The person responsible for raising the alarm will contact any office staff so that emergency services can be notified if the alarm system has not already done so.
2. Teachers will instruct students to immediately evacuate the buildings via the safest exit and proceed quietly to the designated assembly area (See Appendix A).
3. The priority is the rapid, orderly exit from the building of all students and staff.
4. Leave all bags and belongings behind.
5. Where possible, switch off all lights, air conditioners and close windows.
6. If a class teacher is using a science laboratory, they must ensure the gas safety valve is turned off. Any non-science teaching staff who may teach in a science laboratory are guided on safety procedures, including how to turn off the gas safety valve, by a member of the science team prior to using any science laboratory. Any flammable and oxidising chemicals are covered with an appropriate lid, and the Facilities Manager is informed of these chemicals and their location in the room.
7. The teacher leaves last, closes the door, but does not lock it after checking that all students are out.
8. Walk, do not run.
9. The lift in the Discovery Centre must not be used (students with injuries should be accompanied by members of staff).
10. There must be silence so that the teacher's instructions can be heard.
11. Unsupervised students should go immediately to the assembly area, where they should join their class/tutor group.
12. The nurse will accompany any sick students from the medical room to the assembly area.
13. A printout of the electronic register and InVentry visitor/early leavers list will be brought to the assembly area by one of the office staff. It is essential that teachers are aware of the exact number of students in their class at all times.
14. Delegated staff will check toilets and other areas to ensure that all individuals have left the building (see Appendix B). The school nurse will bring the First Aid kit. The Facilities Manager will inspect and secure all other buildings. (Secure includes where possible; electrical equipment off and doors closed).
15. Upon arrival at the assembly area, teachers will check their class roll. (Do not call the roll; visually match names entered as present with actual students.) Class educational assistants must stay with their assigned classes.
16. SLT must cross-check to ensure that unattended student groups are covered and also report any apparently missing teachers to the Office Manager / HR Manager.
17. On completion of the roll check, teachers are to immediately inform the Senior Leader in charge of their team. Senior Leaders will make the Principal aware of any missing students or staff.
18. General staff and contract staff (canteen, lifeguards and security) report to the Office Manager / HR Manager, who will be stationed in the Pagoda.
19. Specialist teachers, peripatetic teachers, the medical team, library team, inclusion team, educational assistants without allocated classes, and visitors should report to the Head of Learning Enhancement and PE, Sport & ECA Administrator in the goalmouth area of the pitch near the Pagoda.
20. The InVentry app is available through the IT Director to cross-check any absences.
21. Security Guard to stand at the car park entrance and stop non-emergency staff from entering the car park.
22. The Principal will be made aware if there are any missing staff or visitors who are unaccounted for.
23. The Principal will delegate the responsibility of advising the emergency services to the Head of Business Administration.
24. The Principal will liaise with the Head of Business Administration via mobile phone regarding any students, staff or visitors who appear to be missing. The Head of Business Administration will give this information to the Chief Fire Officer at the front of the school.
25. Teachers should continue to supervise their students until the Principal, in conjunction with the Heads of Phase, dismisses them in an orderly manner.

Extraordinary Circumstances

• If a fire bell rings as students and staff are entering the school in the morning or when students return from an off-site trip or sports activity, students and staff must remain outside the campus. The security guard asks parents to stay with their children where possible and move away from the main site.
• If the fire alarm sounds before the start of the school day, all students in school should congregate on the pitch, and all staff in school should also proceed to the pitch.
• The person in charge of the ECA group (before or after school hours) is responsible for their group of students. They should escort the students to the pitch, where they will stay in their designated groups. Staff should register their students on SchoolsBuddy.
• If a fire alarm sounds during the school holidays but within normal working hours, when only a skeleton staff is on duty, staff should follow the normal fire drill procedures.
• In the event of a fire during examinations, students must be evacuated with the assistance of invigilators. Students must evacuate in silence; otherwise, they will be disqualified.
• If it becomes clear that the school is in danger from the fire, the Principal or senior leaders present will direct teachers to evacuate the campus by escorting their students to the designated safe area located outside the school. The designated area for this purpose is Tai Pak Beach. Secondary students will take the back path to the playground end of the beach, whilst Primary students will walk down the main path to the plaza end of the beach. Teachers will complete an additional headcount once at the beach to ensure all students are present.
• Students are to be lined up on the beach in class/tutor order by year group.
• Parents will be notified to collect their children from the beach by SMS and email. The IT Director is responsible for overseeing this from the EYFS Campus. Teachers and school staff will remain with children until they are collected.
• In the event of a gas leak, the gas supply (three gas canisters) will be shut off, and the Facilities Manager will contact the LPG gas supplier to arrange an inspection. Electrical switches should not be turned on or off, and all naked flames should be extinguished. Doors should be opened. Science staff and supply teachers should be aware of the location of the following items in the laboratories:
• Main gas supply lever.
• Fire extinguisher.
• Fire blanket.
• Fire bucket.

In the event of any other Emergency:

• The Principal or person (s) delegated will inform teachers of the action to be taken over the tannoy system.

In the event of Evacuation:

• The Principal or person (s) delegated will inform teachers of the action to be taken.
• No student is permitted to leave the teacher's custody unless the teacher is absolutely certain that the person collecting the student is authorised to do so. In any case of doubt, refuse release until verification can be established. In the event of a Civil Emergency, it is likely that students are safer at school, under our direct care, during the initial stages of the emergency.
• Secondary students can show communication from a parent/guardian on their phones or personal devices, giving permission for the students to be released.
• In the event that children can not be collected, staff will take them to the Early Years Campus. A delegated member of staff will remain at the beach to direct parents/carers who may arrive after the students have left.
• All drills and actual emergencies must be recorded by the Principal or a delegated Facilities Manager in the Fire Log Book, located in the main office.

Evaluation

• On an annual basis (in September), the Critical Incident Management Team (CIMT) and backup personnel meet to clarify roles and procedures. Dates for test fire drills will be decided – one per term.
• After each test drill, CIMT will review, with a particular focus on the effectiveness of the short-term response, suitable locations for the school to assemble, and decide upon any appropriate changes of action for the future. This may include professional instruction for staff and updating parents at information evenings.

Critical Incident Management Team (See Critical Incident Policy for the most up-to-date version)

CONCLUSION:

In all emergency situations, teachers and support staff play a critical role in ensuring the safest possible care and protection of all our students. Knowledge, understanding and practice of the above procedures will hopefully provide the necessary safe care and protection of our students.

Created: 23.06.2007

Last Reviewed: 6.01.2026

Marc Morris

Principal

Appendix A

Appendix B

Appendix C

Roles and responsibilities to support the successful implementation of secondary procedures for fire and emergency evacuation on the main site can be found in the following document -

Secondary Responsibilities in cases of Fire & Emergency Evacuation (Main Campus)