SV ACADEMY FIRE SAFETY POLICY

Policy owner: Executive Headteacher / Headteacher
Approved by: Directors of SV Academy
Operational lead: Headteacher / appointed Fire Safety Coordinator
Version: September 2026
Last reviewed: September 2026
Next review: September 2027, or earlier following significant change, incident or updated legal guidance

1. Statement of Intent

SV Academy is committed to providing and maintaining a safe environment for students, staff, visitors, contractors and all other persons who may be affected by its activities. The Academy will take appropriate and proportionate measures to prevent fire, protect life, maintain safe means of escape and ensure effective emergency arrangements.

This policy sets out the Academy's arrangements for managing fire safety in accordance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (as amended). Fire safety is an integral part of the Academy's wider health and safety, safeguarding, accessibility and premises-management arrangements.

The safety of life takes priority over property. No member of staff or student is expected to place themselves at risk in order to fight a fire, search a building or protect property.

2. Legal and Guidance Framework

This policy is informed by current fire safety law and official guidance, including the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 as amended, the Building Safety Act 2022, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Equality Act 2010, Home Office educational-premises fire safety guidance and Department for Education school-estates guidance.

3. Responsible Person and Governance

Under the Fire Safety Order, the legal Responsible Person is determined by Article 3. For SV Academy this will normally include SV Academy Ltd as employer/proprietor in relation to areas under its control, together with any landlord, building owner, managing agent or other person who has control of relevant parts of the premises.

Where there is more than one Responsible Person, SV Academy will identify, co-operate and co-ordinate with the other Responsible Persons as required.

The Directors retain corporate oversight. The Executive Headteacher provides strategic oversight. The Headteacher is responsible for day-to-day implementation and ensuring competent assistance is available.

4. Roles and Responsibilities

4.1 Executive Headteacher

Provide strategic oversight of fire safety and ensure serious risks or deficiencies are escalated to the Directors.
Ensure the Academy has adequate resources to meet its fire safety duties.
Review significant fire safety issues, enforcement matters and major remedial actions.
Support the Headteacher in integrating fire safety into leadership and compliance arrangements.

4.2 Headteacher

Lead day-to-day implementation of this policy.
Ensure a competent Fire Safety Coordinator and sufficient trained fire marshals are appointed.
Ensure fire risk assessment actions are allocated, monitored and completed.
Ensure appropriate fire safety information, drills, testing, maintenance and records are in place.
Report significant deficiencies and resource requirements to the Executive Headteacher and Directors.

4.3 Fire Safety Coordinator / Competent Person

Maintain the fire safety logbook and associated records.
Co-ordinate routine tests, contractor servicing, inspections and drills.
Monitor escape routes, fire doors, signage, emergency lighting, alarms and firefighting equipment.
Maintain current evacuation arrangements and support PEEPs and visitor arrangements.
Liaise with the landlord/building manager, competent contractors and the fire and rescue authority as required.

4.4 Fire Marshals

Support orderly evacuation and direct people to the assembly point.
Check designated areas only where this does not delay their own escape or place them at risk.
Report the status of their area to the evacuation lead.
Never re-enter until authorised.

The current list of Fire Safety Coordinator(s), fire marshals and deputies is maintained in the Academy fire safety logbook and staff emergency information.

5. Fire Risk Assessment

SV Academy will maintain a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment for the premises. It will be completed or reviewed by a competent person and will consider all persons who may be at risk, including anyone who may require assistance to evacuate.

In line with Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022, the Responsible Person must record the fire risk assessment in full and record the fire safety arrangements for the premises. The identity of any person or organisation appointed to assist with the assessment will also be recorded.

The assessment will be reviewed regularly and whenever it may no longer be valid, including after significant alterations, changes in use or occupancy, a fire or serious near miss, changes affecting escape or fire precautions, or relevant changes in legislation or guidance.

6. Fire Prevention and General Precautions

Keep escape routes clear and final exits readily available when occupied.
Maintain fire doors and do not wedge them open.
Maintain alarms, emergency lighting and firefighting equipment.
Control ignition sources and combustible materials.
Maintain good housekeeping and safe electrical arrangements.
Control hot work and heat-producing appliances.
Use and charge lithium-ion batteries only in accordance with manufacturer instructions and site controls; damaged batteries or chargers must not be used.
Maintain appropriate security and supervision to reduce deliberate fire-setting and arson risk.

7. Emergency Fire Procedure

Anyone discovering fire, smoke or other clear signs of fire must:

Raise the alarm immediately using the nearest call point.
Leave by the nearest safe escape route.
Call 999, or ensure 999 is called, where fire is confirmed or reasonably suspected.
Go directly to the designated assembly point.
Do not stop for belongings.
Do not use a lift unless the building fire strategy specifically identifies it as an evacuation lift and the person has been instructed to use it.
Do not re-enter until authorised.

Staff should close doors behind them where safe. Fire extinguishers should only be used by trained persons where safe, after the alarm has been raised, and where a safe escape route is maintained. Evacuation takes priority.

8. Evacuation, Assembly and Accountability

Staff supervising students will lead them by the nearest safe route.
Students must follow staff instructions and remain with their group.
Staff must not take unnecessary risks to search rooms or delay their own evacuation.
Attendance and visitor information will be used at the assembly point where safe and practicable.
Anyone believed missing must be reported to the evacuation lead and fire and rescue service; staff must not re-enter to search.

9. Disabled People and Persons Requiring Assistance

The fire risk assessment and emergency plan will make appropriate provision for anyone who may need assistance to evacuate because of disability, injury, medical condition, sensory impairment, cognitive need, pregnancy or another temporary or permanent circumstance.

Where a student, employee or regular visitor requires specific assistance, a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) will be prepared in consultation with the individual and, where appropriate, their parent/carer or relevant professionals. Generic arrangements will be available for visitors who may require assistance. Evacuation plans must not depend on the fire and rescue service arriving in order for a person to escape safely.

10. Alarm, Detection and Calling the Fire and Rescue Service

The fire alarm must provide an effective warning throughout the areas occupied by SV Academy. Staff and students will be familiarised with the alarm signal.

Where fire or smoke is confirmed or reasonably suspected, 999 must be called immediately. Staff must not wait for a fixed verification period where doing so could delay attendance by the fire and rescue service.

A nominated member of staff will meet the fire and rescue service where it is safe to do so and provide relevant information.

11. Fire Drills

SV Academy will undertake evacuation drills at least once each term and additionally when needed because of significant changes to the premises, procedures or occupant needs. Drill records will identify issues and corrective actions.

Where a person's PEEP involves an action that would be unsafe or disproportionate to practise routinely, a safe simulation may be used, provided the actual emergency arrangement remains credible and workable.

12. Training, Induction and Information

All employees will receive fire safety information at induction and suitable refresher training. Fire marshals and persons with specialist duties will receive additional role-specific training sufficient to maintain competence. Temporary staff, volunteers, contractors and visitors will receive information appropriate to their attendance.

13. Testing, Inspection and Maintenance

Fire safety systems and equipment will be tested, inspected and maintained by competent persons in accordance with the fire risk assessment, manufacturer instructions and relevant recognised standards. Defects affecting life safety will be addressed promptly and temporary control measures introduced where necessary.

System / AreaMinimum SV Academy arrangementCheck / actionEscape routes and final exits | Each occupied day / ongoing | Check routes are available, doors can be opened where required, and no obstruction or unsafe storage is present.
Fire alarm control panel | Routine visual check | Check for fault or isolation indications in accordance with the system instructions.
Fire alarm | Weekly | Operate a different manual call point in rotation where practicable; record the result. DfE estate guidance also expects competent-person inspection/testing at appropriate periodic intervals.
Emergency lighting | Monthly functional check and periodic competent test | Confirm operation and record defects. Full-duration testing will be arranged at the interval specified by the competent maintainer and applicable standard.
Fire extinguishers / fire blankets | Routine visual check and annual competent service | Confirm equipment is present, accessible, apparently serviceable and within service date.
Fire doors | Routine checks, with frequency based on use and risk | Check doors close effectively, are not wedged, seals/glazing/ironmongery are intact and defects are reported.
Fire exit doors | Regularly and before/while premises are occupied | Confirm doors open readily in the direction/system intended and emergency exit hardware operates correctly.
Fire risk assessment and emergency arrangements | Regular review and after significant change | Review validity, actions, PEEPs, occupancy and premises changes.

14. Contractors, Building Works and Hot Work

Contractors must receive relevant fire safety information. Works that may affect alarms, fire doors, compartmentation, escape routes, emergency lighting or other fire precautions must be planned and authorised. Temporary system isolations must be controlled, time limited and recorded. Hot work must be specifically risk assessed and subject to appropriate permit controls.

15. Out-of-Hours Events and Lettings

The organiser of any event or letting outside normal hours must ensure appropriate fire safety arrangements are in place. External hirers must receive suitable fire safety information and comply with SV Academy requirements. Activities must not proceed if fire precautions are impaired or the risk is unacceptable.

16. Records and Fire Safety Logbook

SV Academy will keep records of the full fire risk assessment and reviews, recorded fire safety arrangements, competent persons, tests and servicing, drills, training, PEEPs, defects and remedial work, relevant building work information, co-operation with other Responsible Persons, and fire incidents or significant near misses.

17. Fire Incidents, False Alarms and Near Misses

All fires, significant smoke incidents, repeated false alarms and fire-related near misses will be reported, recorded and reviewed. Any formal fire and rescue authority concern or significant deficiency will be escalated to the Executive Headteacher and Directors without delay.

18. Monitoring and Review

The Headteacher will monitor implementation and the Executive Headteacher will provide strategic oversight. This policy will be reviewed at least annually and earlier following significant change, serious incident, revised risk assessment findings or relevant legislative/guidance changes.

Appendix A - First-Day Fire Safety Briefing Checklist

Explain the alarm signal and how to raise the alarm.
Show the nearest alarm call point.
Show primary and alternative escape routes.
Explain assembly arrangements.
Explain not to stop for belongings or re-enter.
Explain responsibilities for students/visitors where applicable.
Identify any PEEP or assistance arrangements.
Explain how hazards, defects and concerns are reported.
For staff with a specific fire role, confirm additional duties and training.

Fire Safety Policy