CalmComplianceRisk Assessment template
School Premises Safety Risk Assessment
- Version
- v1
- Updated
- 1 October 2026
- Audience
- Maintained and academy primary and secondary schools in England, including responsible persons, estates and premises teams, senior leaders, site staff and others involved in identifying, controlling or escalating premises risks.
- Jurisdiction
- england
Activity assessed
School premises, buildings, external areas, access routes, plant, workplace conditions and premises use, including activities involving pupils, staff, visitors and contractors. Applicability to a particular area, asset, activity or responsible person must be confirmed locally.
Assess each hazard and its controls against your site before use. Template ratings require local review.
Hazards and controls
Unsafe condition of buildings, rooms or fixed parts of the premises, including defects that could expose pupils, staff, visitors or contractors to harm.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls are recorded in this reusable template. Record only controls that have been verified for the relevant premises, area or activity.
- Proposed controls
- Define the areas and building elements within scope and identify the responsible person for each. Inspect relevant buildings and rooms at an appropriate frequency. Record defects, restrictions and temporary measures. Prevent access to areas presenting an immediate or uncontrolled risk where necessary. Raise repairs through the applicable premises process, assign an owner and target date, and escalate overdue or unresolved issues. Reassess after repair, change of use or discovery of a further defect.
Local assessment and additional controls
Slips, trips and falls on floors, stairs, paths, ramps, entrances or other access routes, including risks arising from obstructions, contamination, damage, weather or inadequate lighting.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls are recorded in this reusable template. Record verified arrangements for inspection, housekeeping, lighting, access and defect reporting.
- Proposed controls
- Identify internal and external pedestrian routes and users who may require adjustments. Keep routes appropriately clear and manage spills, contamination, ice, snow, uneven surfaces and damaged finishes. Check stairs, ramps, handrails, entrance areas and lighting. Restrict or divert access where a defect cannot be controlled promptly. Record repairs and temporary controls, and review routes after changes to layout, use or accessibility needs.
Local assessment and additional controls
Unauthorised, unsuitable or uncontrolled access to the premises, restricted areas, roofs, plant rooms, storage areas, construction areas or other hazardous locations.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls are recorded in this reusable template. Record verified access arrangements, supervision requirements, physical restrictions and contractor controls.
- Proposed controls
- Identify areas requiring restricted access and specify who may enter and under what conditions. Use appropriate physical barriers, locking, signage, supervision or permit arrangements where needed. Consider pupils, visitors, contractors and people unfamiliar with the premises. Check access controls after changes, incidents or reports of unauthorised entry. Escalate failures of barriers, locks or supervision and record any required restriction until resolved.
Local assessment and additional controls
Plant, machinery, equipment, building services or other installations presenting risks through contact, movement, pressure, heat, electricity, stored energy, noise, failure or unsuitable use.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls are recorded in this reusable template. Record verified inspection, maintenance, isolation, guarding, competence and access arrangements for the relevant plant or equipment.
- Proposed controls
- Create or confirm an inventory of relevant plant, equipment and installations within scope. Identify competent persons and manufacturer or service requirements where applicable. Maintain guarding, isolation and access controls. Restrict use to authorised and suitably instructed people where required. Plan inspection, testing, maintenance and defect reporting. Remove from service or isolate defective items where continued use cannot be adequately controlled, and escalate unresolved defects.
Local assessment and additional controls
Fire, smoke, explosion or failure of emergency arrangements associated with buildings, external areas, storage, work activities, services or temporary works.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls are recorded in this reusable template. Record verified fire-safety arrangements, emergency procedures, alarm and equipment checks, evacuation arrangements and relevant restrictions.
- Proposed controls
- Identify premises and activities requiring fire or emergency controls and confirm the responsible arrangements. Keep escape routes and exits suitable for the intended users and use. Control ignition sources, combustible materials, storage and temporary works. Confirm arrangements for raising the alarm, evacuation, assistance, assembly, contractor activity and access for emergency services as applicable. Record defects or unavailable systems, apply interim restrictions where necessary and escalate unresolved issues.
Local assessment and additional controls
Exposure to hazardous substances, dust, fumes, biological agents, waste, leaks or contamination arising from premises, maintenance, cleaning, storage, laboratories, kitchens, grounds or contractor activities.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls are recorded in this reusable template. Record verified substance, storage, ventilation, hygiene, waste, exposure and contractor controls relevant to the premises.
- Proposed controls
- Identify substances, contamination sources and activities within scope, including work undertaken by contractors. Prevent unauthorised access and unsuitable storage. Use appropriate handling, containment, ventilation, hygiene, waste and spill arrangements where applicable. Restrict affected areas after leaks, contamination or uncontrolled release until assessed and made suitable for use. Record responsible persons, repairs or specialist escalation required.
Local assessment and additional controls
Vehicles, deliveries, loading, car parks, service yards, grounds maintenance and interaction between vehicles and pedestrians.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls are recorded in this reusable template. Record verified traffic-management, delivery, segregation, supervision, contractor and access arrangements.
- Proposed controls
- Map or describe relevant vehicle and pedestrian movements without assuming that a particular layout exists. Identify delivery, collection, parking, reversing, loading and grounds-maintenance activities. Separate vehicles and pedestrians where reasonably practicable and manage visibility, speed, timing, supervision and access restrictions as appropriate. Coordinate contractor and delivery arrangements, record defects in surfaces or barriers, and escalate uncontrolled conflicts or repeated near misses.
Local assessment and additional controls
Workplace conditions that may adversely affect health or safe use, including lighting, ventilation, temperature, noise, overcrowding, workstation layout, welfare facilities or changing environmental conditions.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls are recorded in this reusable template. Record verified workplace-condition controls and any local arrangements for monitoring, reporting and remediation.
- Proposed controls
- Identify rooms, work areas and activities where workplace conditions may affect safe use. Check that lighting, ventilation, temperature, noise, space, layout and welfare arrangements are suitable for the intended use and users. Consider temporary changes, vulnerable users and people requiring adjustments. Record complaints, defects and restrictions; implement reasonable interim measures where needed; and assign repairs or further assessment to an appropriate responsible person.
Local assessment and additional controls
Falls from height, falling objects or access to elevated, fragile or inadequately protected locations, including roofs, ledges, scaffolds, ladders, platforms, trees or temporary works.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls are recorded in this reusable template. Record verified controls for access, edge protection, fragile surfaces, storage, inspection, supervision and contractor work.
- Proposed controls
- Identify elevated, fragile or falling-object hazards and determine whether access is necessary. Prevent unauthorised access and control storage or work that could cause objects to fall. Use suitable access equipment, edge protection, exclusion zones, supervision and contractor arrangements where applicable. Stop or restrict activities where protection is missing, damaged or unsuitable. Record required repairs, inspections and specialist escalation.
Local assessment and additional controls
Construction, maintenance, alteration, cleaning, inspection or other contractor activity creating risks to people using or passing through the premises.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls are recorded in this reusable template. Record verified arrangements for contractor selection, coordination, segregation, communication, supervision, permits and handover.
- Proposed controls
- Identify planned, ongoing and reactive contractor activities and the areas or people affected. Confirm responsibilities between the school, employer, landlord, contractor and any other responsible person where applicable. Coordinate schedules, access, isolation, segregation, signage, welfare, emergency arrangements and handover. Restrict use of affected areas when controls are not in place. Record defects, changes and outstanding actions, and escalate unresolved disagreements or unsafe work.
Local assessment and additional controls
External areas, playgrounds, sports areas, boundaries, trees, vegetation, water features, street furniture or play and recreational features presenting risks during normal or changed use.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls are recorded in this reusable template. Record verified inspection, maintenance, supervision, weather-related, access and activity-specific controls.
- Proposed controls
- Identify external areas and features within scope and the activities and users associated with them. Inspect for damage, instability, contamination, obstructions, adverse weather effects and unsuitable conditions. Define restrictions, supervision or closure arrangements where required. Coordinate grounds, tree, play, sports and contractor work. Record repairs and temporary measures, and reassess after severe weather, alteration, incident or reported defect.
Local assessment and additional controls
Failure to identify, communicate or escalate premises risks, defects, changes in use, shared responsibilities, incidents, near misses or restrictions affecting safe use.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls are recorded in this reusable template. Record verified reporting, communication, action-tracking, review and escalation arrangements.
- Proposed controls
- Define how premises risks, defects, incidents, near misses and restrictions are reported and recorded. Assign responsibility for triage, action ownership, repair, communication and review. Communicate relevant restrictions and temporary controls to affected staff, pupils, visitors and contractors through suitable local arrangements. Reassess when the premises, occupancy, activity, equipment, responsible person or control arrangements change. Escalate matters that remain uncontrolled, overdue, disputed or outside the organisation's authority to the appropriate responsible person.
Local assessment and additional controls