08. Feeling safe
Creating a secure and welcoming place
Criteria for good school design
External environment
Are external routes and boundaries clear and well defined?
Is the security strategy balanced with openness?
Internal environment
Are there opportunities for passive surveillance throughout the school?
Does the design of toilets, staircases and circulation areas allow for visibility so users feel safe?
Questions to help you meet the criteria
A successful scheme will create a school that is both secure and inviting. Boundaries and entrances will be visible inside and out. Opportunities for bullying will be limited by positioning of staff bases. Lockers, toilets and stairwells will be conveniently located.
Our questions to ask about feeling safe can help you meet the assessment criteria.
A good example
The scheme creates a secure and welcoming environment both internally and externally on a tight inner city site.
It creates clear boundaries and uses passive supervision successfully throughout the buildings.