CalmComplianceRisk Assessment template
School Grounds Hazard Register and Risk Assessment
- Version
- v1
- Updated
- 1 October 2026
- Audience
- Primary and secondary schools in England, including maintained schools and academies, where relevant grounds or external-area hazards are identified.
- Jurisdiction
- england
Activity assessed
Assessing and managing identified hazards in school grounds and external areas, including access arrangements, protective measures, regular checks, reviews and records.
Assess each hazard and its controls against your site before use. Template ratings require local review.
Hazards and controls
Ponds or other open water in grounds or external areas accessible to pupils, staff or visitors, where applicable.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls are asserted by this reusable register. Record only verified controls currently in place, including access restrictions, barriers, supervision arrangements, signage, inspection arrangements and emergency arrangements.
- Proposed controls
- Where this hazard is identified, assess the pond and surrounding area; define and maintain suitable exclusion or protection arrangements; restrict access where necessary; consider the needs of pupils, staff and visitors; provide clear arrangements for supervision and emergencies; record the arrangements and checks made; review them regularly to confirm that they remain effective.
Local assessment and additional controls
Excavations, pits, trenches or other ground openings in grounds or external areas accessible to pupils, staff or visitors, where applicable.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls are asserted by this reusable register. Record only verified controls currently in place, including secure covers, barriers, exclusion zones, contractor controls, signage, inspection arrangements and arrangements for preventing unauthorised access.
- Proposed controls
- Where this hazard is identified, assess the excavation and its surroundings; establish and maintain suitable exclusion or protection arrangements; secure or cover the opening where appropriate; control access during works and when areas are unattended; coordinate controls with contractors where relevant; record arrangements and checks; review them regularly and after changes or incidents.
Local assessment and additional controls
Known or suspected ground contamination in grounds or external areas accessible to pupils, staff or visitors, where applicable.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls are asserted by this reusable register. Record only verified controls currently in place, including access restrictions, surface or soil controls, information provided to relevant persons, monitoring arrangements and arrangements for managing disturbance of the ground.
- Proposed controls
- Where this hazard is identified, assess the affected area and potential routes of exposure; define and maintain suitable exclusion or protection arrangements; prevent unauthorised disturbance or contact where necessary; obtain appropriate competent advice where the nature or extent of contamination is uncertain; record arrangements and checks; review controls regularly and when land use, works or conditions change.
Local assessment and additional controls
Electrical plant, equipment, enclosures or installations in grounds or external areas accessible to pupils, staff or visitors, where applicable.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls are asserted by this reusable register. Record only verified controls currently in place, including locked enclosures, barriers, restricted access, warning signs, maintenance arrangements, inspection arrangements and emergency isolation arrangements.
- Proposed controls
- Where this hazard is identified, assess the plant and its location; maintain suitable exclusion or protection arrangements; restrict access to authorised persons; keep enclosures and protective measures secure; arrange inspection and maintenance by appropriately competent persons where required; record arrangements and checks; review them regularly and after alterations, faults, incidents or changes in access.
Local assessment and additional controls
Other identified hazards in grounds or external areas that pupils, staff or visitors could access.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls are asserted by this reusable register. Record only verified controls currently in place for the identified hazard.
- Proposed controls
- Where another grounds hazard is identified, describe it specifically; assess who may be exposed and how; define suitable exclusion, protection, supervision, maintenance or access arrangements; record the arrangements and checks made; review them regularly to confirm that they remain effective.
Local assessment and additional controls
Changes to grounds, external access, construction activity, maintenance activity, weather conditions or site use that may affect the effectiveness of arrangements for an identified hazard.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls are asserted by this reusable register. Record only verified processes currently in place for identifying and responding to changes.
- Proposed controls
- For each identified hazard, review arrangements when the grounds, external access, works, conditions or use change; repeat checks where necessary; update exclusion or protection arrangements; communicate relevant changes to affected persons; retain records of the review and checks.
Local assessment and additional controls