Health & Safety / Medical Policy

A Safe and Healthy School Community

BC Academy is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for students, staff, parents, contractors and visitors.

We identify hazards, assess risks and take reasonable steps to prevent accidents and reduce risks across our classrooms, facilities, transport and school activities.

Our Commitment

BC Academy works to provide:

Health and safety is a shared responsibility. Everyone using the school premises is expected to follow safety procedures and report concerns promptly.

Premises and Equipment

Our premises, facilities and equipment are inspected and maintained regularly.

This includes classrooms, corridors, playgrounds, sports facilities, electrical equipment, fire-safety systems and specialist learning spaces.

Any defect or hazard is recorded and prioritised according to risk. Equipment found to be unsafe is removed from use until it has been repaired or replaced.

Accidents and Incidents

All accidents, injuries, incidents and near misses must be reported, regardless of how minor they may appear.

Minor injuries are treated by a trained first aider or the School Nurse and recorded on the day they occur. Serious incidents are reported immediately to the Health and Safety Officer and Principal.

Parents are informed on the same day when their child receives medical attention beyond basic first aid. A written incident summary is provided within 48 hours.

Serious incidents and high-risk near misses are investigated so that the school can understand what happened and prevent a recurrence.

Food Safety and Hygiene

BC Academy maintains appropriate standards of food safety, cleanliness and hygiene throughout the school.

Catering providers must meet relevant licensing and food-handling requirements. Allergen information is maintained and made available to families, and food preparation areas are subject to regular inspections.

Cleaning schedules, handwashing facilities and sanitising stations are maintained across classrooms, toilets and shared spaces. Enhanced cleaning measures may be introduced during periods of communicable illness.

Visitors and Contractors

All visitors must sign in at Reception, complete the required identity checks and wear a visitor badge while on site. An escort may be required depending on the purpose and location of the visit.

Contractors must follow school safety procedures and provide the necessary licences, insurance and risk assessments before beginning work.

Higher-risk work is carefully controlled and, wherever possible, scheduled outside teaching hours or separated from areas used by students.

Staff Training

All staff receive health and safety information and training appropriate to their responsibilities.

This includes induction training on fire safety, manual handling and hazard reporting. Staff working in higher-risk areas receive additional role-specific training.

The school also maintains appropriately trained first-aid and paediatric first-aid staff.

Emergency Arrangements

BC Academy maintains separate procedures for medical emergencies, fire and evacuation, lockdowns and other serious incidents.

Emergency routes and key safety information are displayed around the school. Staff and students take part in appropriate drills so they understand how to respond safely.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Principal has overall day-to-day responsibility for health and safety, supported by the Senior Leadership Team and the Health and Safety Officer.

The Health and Safety Officer coordinates inspections, risk assessments, training, incident investigations and contractor management.

All staff must:

Contractors and visitors must follow school instructions and ensure their activities do not place others at risk.

Reporting a Health or Safety Concern

Students, parents, staff and visitors should report any hazard, unsafe condition, accident or near miss as soon as possible.

Concerns can be raised with a member of staff, Reception or the Health and Safety Officer. Urgent risks should be reported immediately so that appropriate action can be taken.

Monitoring and Review

The school reviews accidents, incidents, inspections, contractor compliance and staff training each term to identify patterns and areas for improvement.

The Health and Safety Policy is formally reviewed every six months, or sooner following a serious incident, a significant operational change or updated regulatory guidance.

Our goal is to ensure that everyone at BC Academy can learn, work and visit in a safe, secure and well-managed environment.