Exclusive:'Hide and keep quiet': New law will see rise of US-style lockdown drills in Scots schools
Martyn’s Law comes into effect next year and will see a rise in US-style lockdown drills in Scottish schools
American-style lockdown drills are being carried out in schools in a third of Scotland’s local authorities.
From next year, new legislation comes in to effect placing obligations on all schools to have formal anti-attack plans.
A small number of independent schools have already begun practice lockdown and invacuation procedures for pupils as young as three.
The Scotsman asked all 32 local authorities whether their schools already carry out lockdown drills ahead of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, known as Martyn’s Law.
Of the 29 that responded, eight already carry out lockdown drills in primary and secondary settings.
Clackmannanshire Council would not confirm whether or not it carried out lockdown drills for security reasons.
Martyn’s Law, named for the Manchester Arena bombing victim Martyn Hett, sets requirements for emergency planning for public buildings in the event of a terrorist attack.
This includes schools, which fall into the “standard tier’.
They must have processes in place for evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and a way to alert everyone on site to the danger.
Lockdown drills include having pupils practice finding a safe space to hide, concealing themselves under desks, locking classroom doors and keeping the blinds down.
For the very youngest children, they are told the drills are in case an animal is loose on school grounds and to practice “quiet as a mouse” procedures.
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, known as Martyn’s Law after the Manchester Arena bombing victim Martyn Hett comes into force next April.
The Scottish government is currently working with the Home Office to consider whether guidance for English schools, issued by the Department for Education, is suitable for use in Scottish schools.
A spokesman for the Scottish government said it is “working closely with the Home Office to help councils, schools and other education providers prepare for Martyn's Law.”
“As part of this work we are considering whether further updates are required to ensure that statutory guidance on protective security issued by the Department for Education is suitable for education settings in Scotland,” he added.
“It is the statutory duty of local authorities to manage their school estate, and we expect them to provide safe environments for all school users.”
The English lockdown advice calls for classrooms to be locked and barricaded, windows and blinds closed, and lights turned off.
Phones should be silenced and instructions should be written on whiteboards to avoid talking. Mobile air conditioning units should also be turned off to reduce the risk of chemical or biological weapons.
The response to impending anti-terror law changes and increasing concerns about knife use and safety on school campuses varies widely across Scotland.
Glasgow City Council said it has set up Martyn’s Law Implementation Group to consider the implementation of the legislation.
The local authority, Scotland’s largest, said it will predominantly focus on enhancing processes that are already in place.
Glasgow schools do not currently carry out lockdown drills.
North Lanarkshire Council similarly said it has set up a working group to consider the legislation.
Dumfries and Galloway Council said it “routinely” carries out lockdown drills across all settings from early years to secondary.
“This allows learners and staff to familiarise themselves with our lockdown procedures and gives parents, carers and the wider school community the reassurance and confidence that our council takes threats to the safety of our learners and employees seriously,” a spokesman said.
“As well as carrying out the drills, we use age-appropriate explanations to explain to each setting why we are carrying out the drills and the importance of doing so.”
Orkney Islands Council also said its pupils carry out regular practice of lockdown, evacuation and invacuation procedures.
A spokeswoman said: “While lockdown is an important measure in the context of terrorism, it is also a key protective response to a range of other potential incidents, such as external large-scale chemical or fire incidents.
“Our approach therefore recognises the need for flexible, proportionate responses to a variety of risks.”
Stirling Council said it is running a pilot project in one of its schools to be launched at the start of the new academic term in August.
Findings from the pilot will be used to establish safety procedures that will be rolled out across all Stirling schools.
“We do not currently have plans to introduce lockdown drills in our schools, however these may yet be incorporated into our resources as part of efforts to respond to emergency situations,” a spokesman added.
Fife Council also said it has no plans to introduce lockdown drills to its schools.
East Lothian Council, however, said annual lockdown drills are carried out in its schools with pupils warned well in advance.
A spokeswoman said: “Fire evacuation procedures are well established and practised regularly, however, as part of this work and Martyn’s Law, annual invacuation drills are now held as part of ongoing resilience work.
“Parents are given advance notice and staff and children are prepared as part of our normal routines around evacuation and invacuation routines.”
The Scotsman told earlier this year of schools installing panic buttons due to rising violence and fears of attacks.
In the US, lockdown drills began in 1999 following the Columbine police shooting and have become increasingly controversial.
Some schools use masked actors with dummy weapons during drills, which are held without warning.
East Dunbartonshire, North Ayrshire and Shetland Islands council did not respond requests.
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