Exclusive:Parents' concerns as prestigious private school practises US-style lockdown drill
Pupils as young as three will have to “hide and stay silent” during controversial US-style lockdown drill at Edinburgh private school
Parents have expressed alarm after an Edinburgh private school announced it is holding a US-style lockdown practice.
Erskine Stewart Melville has said pupils as young as three will be drilled in “keeping very quiet and hiding” during the event on Friday morning.
Principal Anthony Simpson said the lockdown drill is to prepare for a “security threat in the local community”.
One father, who asked not to be named, said: “This isn’t America.
“We’re told that the drill is to prepare for situations such as a wild animal on the school grounds, a fire or a storm.
“But why would young children have to hide and stay silent because of a wild animal - this is Scotland.
“It’s extremely alarming - does the school know something we should know?”
In a letter to parents, Mr Simpson said the drill was being carried out across all ESMS sites.
The school is a new merger of Stewart's Melville College for boys and The Mary Erskine School for girls, providing co-ed schooling for three to 18-year-olds.
The principal writes that the school routinely practises fire evacuations but was now introducing lockdown drills regularly to “prepare everyone for situations where it is safer to stay inside buildings”.
He gives the examples of a potentially dangerous animal on site, a major fire or nearby chemical leak, an extreme weather event or a security threat such as unrest or protests.
“We understand that by their nature, emergency drills can be worrying for children and young people,” Mr Simpson’s letter says.
“Staff will talk to students in an age-appropriate and reassuring way before, during and after the drill.
“For younger children, the emphasis will be on practising keeping very quiet and hiding.
“Additional support will be available for students who may find drills more challenging.”
During the lockdown, all staff will be sent text messages and notifications to their computers and tablets.
Staff and students inside buildings will stay in the nearest safe space, secure the door, turn the lights and screens off and take cover behind desks and other furniture.
Any staff or pupils outside will go to the nearest building and do the same.
Those who are not near a building will be expected to “take cover” for the 30 minutes of the drill.
A mother-of-two, who asked also not to be named, added: “Fire drills we understand, because fire is a real threat.
“My younger child is very sensitive. We shield them as much as possible by limiting screen time and what they can access.
“I’m very worried about the impact of him having to hide under a desk and stay silent.
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“It’s the sort of thing seen in the US and it’s quite ghastly and unnecessary.”
Her husband added: “The school has asked us to speak to our children but I’m really at a loss.
“The school says talking to the children will ‘reinforce learning’ but reinforce what, exactly?
“That the place they should feel safest is actually not so safe at all?”
Erskine Stewart Melville did not respond to a request for comment.
However, the letter from Mr Simpson adds: “It is very unlikely that we would ever need to go into a lockdown, but it is important that if we did, everyone in school is prepared and confident about what to do to keep themselves and others safe.”
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