School Safety and Security Checklist

Let's see how are school safety and security checklists used, what they cover, and how to quickly build one for your educational institution.

What is a School Safety and Security Checklist?

This kind of checklist is typical used as a part of school safety and security assessment. As an example, such an inspection may include the assessment of whether interior and exterior doors are in good condition or the school could be easily breached by intruders. It also can involve a review of the school’s safety equipment and protocol, such as if the school has sign-in sheets and well-stocked first-aid kits.

A school safety and security assessment checklist ensures that the inspector doesn’t miss anything and instead thoroughly evaluates each and every area of concern. Consulting the checklist also helps school administrators correct problems identified prior to or during the inspection.

Additionally, the completed checklist shows that the school values safety and security and has actively taken measures to ensure both. It can serve as proof if there’s an incident that calls the school’s safety and security measures and methods into question.

What Does a Typical School Safety and Security Checklist Covers?

A school safety and security assessment inspection checklist should verify whether the following exterior and interior components of the school are secure:

• Interior Doors
• Gates
• Windows
• Exit Doors

Furthermore, the checklist should note whether the school’s office has the following materials in place:

• Office Sign-In Sheet
• Communication Methods
• Emergency Phone/Walkie Talkies
• Emergency Kit
• Bloodborne Pathogen Kits
• AED Batteries
• First Aid Kit

Finally, the checklist should include the following information about the school, as well as the person who performed and approved the inspection:

• Inspector
• Contact Number
• Email Address
• School Name
• School Address
• General Comments
• Date and Time of Inspection

That said, a school safety and security assessment checklist can be more extensive. You may wish to include questions about security measures and equipment, such as surveillance cameras, evacuation maps, staff training, and fire extinguishers. You can also delve into aspects of the school’s plans should specific emergencies arise, or even particular rooms or sections of the school. When students’ and educators’ lives depend on how safe the school is, it pays to be thorough when creating a safety checklist.

Bellow is an example of a security checklist for schools built with Forms On Fire.

What is a School Safety and Security Assessment Inspection Report?

A school safety and security assessment inspection report is a PDF file of a digitally completed checklist. Admins can view these completed checklists each time they’re completed. These reports prove valuable if there’s a question or incident, as they can indicate the inspector's name, the date of the inspection, and if various safety precautions were met.

Here is an example of a report based on the checklist we showed above.

Where Do I Get a School Safety and Security Assessment Inspection Checklist?

You can create your own school safety and security inspection checklist with just word processing software and a printer. Keep in mind, though, that using an automated inspection tool like Forms On Fire is the superior choice. 

Forms On Fire offers hundreds of form templates — including a security checklist for schools — that you can customize to your exact needs. You can then publish your checklist and distribute it to your team of inspectors, who can complete and submit it while in the field using a smart device. Additionally, you can generate reports using information from the checklists. The entire automated process removes any need to keep track of hard copies, duplicate data-entry tasks, and manually submit and track information.