School Automated External Defibrillator Provision and Readiness Guidance
- Version
- v1
- Updated
- 1 October 2026
Fields in brackets are completed when you adapt this template.
This guidance applies where a maintained or academy primary or secondary school in England chooses to purchase or provide an automated external defibrillator (AED). It does not require a school to provide an AED.
Considering an AED
Schools are encouraged to purchase an AED as part of their first-aid equipment. Before deciding whether to provide one, the school should consider its local first-aid needs, risk assessment and available resources.
The school may record its decision as [aed provision decision] and the basis for that decision as [aed decision basis].
Purchasing or providing an AED
Where the school decides to provide an AED, it should retain the purchase or provision record and record the AED's location as [aed location].
The Department for Education has made arrangements for schools to purchase AEDs at a reduced cost. Further details are provided in the AED guide for schools.
Positioning and accessibility
Where an AED is provided, the school should record how its location and accessibility have been determined as [aed accessibility arrangement].
The school should ensure that relevant local information about the AED is recorded as [aed local awareness arrangement].
Readiness arrangements
Where an AED is provided, the school should retain information about its maintenance or readiness checks as [aed readiness record].
Where staff awareness or training is provided, the school should retain the relevant awareness or training records as [aed awareness or training record].
Local ownership
The school should identify the person or role responsible for maintaining the AED provision information as [aed responsible role].
Sources
- First aid in schools, early years and further education - GOV.UKDepartment for Education