Air Quality Policy
AIR QUALITY POLICY
SCHOOL AIMS:
- To ensure a supportive, happy and secure environment for learning.
- To encourage the physical and emotional wellbeing of each individual.
PURPOSE
Discovery Bay International School takes the issue of air pollution very seriously. The purpose of this Air Quality Policy is to ensure the wellbeing of all our students and members of our school community on a daily basis. This policy is informed by a number of sources that include the guidelines provided by the Government Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the World Heath Authority’s (WHO) recommendations on air quality. This policy will be reviewed as further guidance is received from education, environment and health authorities.
DAILY ACTION TO MONITOR AIR QUALITY
We monitor pollution levels on a regular basis during each school day, using the information provided by the following sources:
- The HKSAR Environment Protection Department Air Quality Health Index (AQHI): www.aghi.gov.hk
- The Air Quality Index (AQI) for China – www.aqicn.org
We review the readings for Tung Chung at the beginning of the day, break times, at lunchtimes, and before the start of morning and afternoon Extra Curricular Activities. The school has also purchased and installed its own monitoring technology with a view to providing a local AQI measurement for Discovery Bay. The measurements provided by these devices are crucial in any decisions made about outdoor activities on the school’s campuses.
A member of the administration team takes readings and decisions regarding appropriate actions are taken by the Head of School in consultation with members of the Physical Education Department (PE) and members of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT). In his absence this responsibility passes to the Deputy Head in charge of outdoor learning, in consultation with the Heads of Secondary, Primary and Early Years.
ACTION TAKEN AFTER READINGS
The following appropriate measures will be taken with regard to outside activities due to take place. The readings are communicated to all staff via email and displayed in key areas around the school.
Level | AQI | Colour | Air Quality | Activities | Procedures |
1 | 0-100 | Yellow | Moderate | Normal | No additional procedures. All air purifiers on. * |
2 | 101-150 | Orange | Unhealthy for high risk groups | Students with respiratory problems excused from outdoor activities. | Doors and windows closed. All air purifiers on. |
3 | 151 -200 | Red | Unhealthy | Students with respiratory problems excused from outdoor activities. High intensity sport activities will be modified or cancelled. | Doors and windows closed. All air purifiers on. |
4 | >200 | Purple | Very unhealthy | All outdoor activities including play at break and lunch will be cancelled. | Doors and windows closed. All air purifiers on. |
All classrooms in the school have their own air purifiers. All classroom teachers are responsible for ensuring that windows and doors in their classrooms are closed when the air quality is poor.
The Senior Leadership Team is responsible for monitoring the latest information and ensuring all staff is kept informed. The Amah team and Facilities Manager are responsible for placing the correct signage at entrances to the school. They are also responsible for ensuring all external doors, and corridor windows are kept closed when the air quality is poor.
CHILDREN WITH SPECIFIC HEALTH RELATED ISSUES
Parents should keep the school informed of any medical conditions, which means their child should be added to the list of students to be monitored at the 100-150 level. The school’s medical team will collate and manage a list of students with respiratory problems.
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Before school or after school outdoor activities will be cancelled if readings are recorded at 200 or above at the designated location for the activity. Members of the Leadership team will liaise with the activity leader and Head of PE before the morning and afternoon Extra Curricular Activities Programme is underway.
EDUCATIONAL VISITS, WEEKEND TOURNAMENTS AND SPORTS FIXTURES
A standard air quality reading will be taken prior to any school educational visit. If the reading is over 150 at the location of the visit the member of staff responsible in conjunction with the Senior Leadership Team will make the decision to postpone the trip. The member of staff responsible will make the necessary arrangements and communicate directly with parents of the students on the visit.
In the case of residential visits the member of staff responsible for the visit, will use the AQI App to take air quality readings at the start of the day to decide if outdoor activities need to be modified or postponed.
Students will only travel to sports fixtures if this is deemed safe by the PE department and the Senior Leadership Team. At the meeting of the coaching staff at the venue, Discovery Bay International School Sports coaches will take a reading from the AQI App to determine whether the fixture should be modified or postponed. If this decision differs from other schools’ decisions, then the school policy must be followed.
Created: 01.02.2017
Last Reviewed: 14.02.2025