Fire and Emergency Evacuation Procedure - Sixth Form

Sixth Form Campus
Fire and Emergency Evacuation Policy and Procedure

SCHOOL AIMS

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

RATIONALE

In order to provide safe care and protection for all at Discovery Bay International School, it is essential that we have clearly understood and practised procedures relating 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 regular practising of 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 the Sixth Form is located outside the entrance to the Auberge Hotel.
• An information sheet for students and teachers, and a clearly marked escape route, is displayed in every classroom and in appropriate places around the Sixth Form.
• All students should be instructed, by class teachers as appropriate, in the proper escape routes, assembly area and behaviour, i.e. students should walk down staircases in silence, accompanied by their teacher where possible to the assembly point, and line up alphabetically in class groups. Staff discovering a fire should assist anybody in immediate danger, evacuate students and raise the alarm.
• Sixth Form Receptionist to print out all class registers, including Supervised Study registers. Subject specific registers are passed to Class teachers, and the Supervised Study register is passed to the University and Careers Guidance Counsellor for them to take the register (if required University and Careers Guidance Counsellor will take their Class register in addition to the Supervised Study register).

Precautions

Rehearsing the procedure regularly is essential. A rehearsed routine will minimise the chance of panic in an actual 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 adhered to.

Fire Alarm Procedure

1. The warning signal will be the continued ringing of the electric bell, or by word of mouth.
2. The Head of Sixth Form (HOSF) or designated person present will activate the online/mobile device panic button, which will make SLT at other campuses aware of the incident. The Facilities Manager and the Principal or their delegate will respond immediately to the call.
3. Teachers will advise the students to immediately evacuate the buildings via the safest exit, to make their way quietly to the assembly area outside the entrance to the Auberge Hotel. A map is provided in each of the rooms in the Sixth Form building.
4. The priority is for all persons to leave in an orderly manner, with teachers leaving classrooms last so that doors are closed, but not locked, after checking all students are out. To minimise the risk of the fire spreading, wherever possible, switch off all lights, air conditioners and close windows.
5. There must be silence so that instructions from teachers can be heard
6. All persons should leave all bags and belongings behind.
7. Unsupervised students should go immediately to the assembly area, where they should join their class.
8. A printout of the electronic register will be brought to the assembly area by the Sixth Form Receptionist.
9. Upon arrival at the assembly area, teachers will check their class roll.
10. On completion of the roll check, teachers are to immediately inform the University and Careers Guidance Counsellor.
11. General staff are to report to do the final sweep of the building for clearance before reporting to the Sixth Form Receptionist. The Sixth Form Receptionist will also check the visitors' register and then pass on all relevant information to the University and Careers Guidance Counsellor.
12. Teachers should continue to supervise their students until the Principal or Head of Secondary arrives and dismisses them in an orderly manner. (In the case of fire drill rehearsals, the HOSF or appropriate designated personnel will dismiss students and staff).

Extraordinary Circumstances

• If a fire bell rings as students and staff are entering the school in the morning or when students are returning from a trip or sports activity off-site, students and staff must remain outside of the Sixth Form campus.
• If there is a fire alarm during the school holidays but during normal working hours, when only a skeleton staff are on duty, staff should follow the normal fire drill procedures; the visitors’ book and staff in attendance rota should be taken to the normal assembly point to account for all persons in the building.

In the event of any other Emergency:

• The Head of Secondary or person(s) delegated will inform teachers of the action to be taken.

In the event of Evacuation:

• The Head of Secondary or person(s) delegated will inform teachers of the action to be taken.
• No student is permitted to leave the custody of the teacher responsible until a member of the Senior Leadership dismisses them. This will be after communication with parents. In the case of a Civil Emergency, it is probable that the students are safer at school, while under our direct care, during the initial stages of the emergency.
• All drills and actual emergencies are to be recorded by the Principal or Facilities Manager in the Emergency 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, particularly the effectiveness of short-term response, the suitable location for the school to assemble and decide upon any appropriate change of action for the future. This may include professional instruction for staff and updating parents at information evenings.

The Critical Incident Policy includes the up-to-date list for the Critical Incident Management Team.

CONCLUSION:

In all emergency situations, the teachers and support staff have a critical role to carry out to ensure the safest possible care and protection of all of our students. Knowledge, understanding and practice of the above procedures will hopefully provide the necessary safe care and protection of our students.

Created: 24.08.2017

Last Reviewed: 23.04.2025

Appendix A

Link to detailed secondary procedures on both the main site and North Plaza - Secondary Responsibilities on Main Campus in cases of Fire & Emergency Evacuation (Procedure)

Critical Incident Policy