Fire risk assessments
for secondary schools.
Properly assessed, from £295.
A secondary school combines large numbers of pupils, sprawling multi-building sites, and specialist rooms full of genuine ignition sources, from science labs to workshops to commercial kitchens. We carry out fire risk assessments for secondary schools, high schools, and sixth forms across the North West, built around the specific hazards a secondary site carries that no office or primary ever does.
Who is the Responsible Person?
It depends on the type of secondary school, and on a large site the duty is easy to lose track of.
The academy trust is the Responsible Person and employer, carrying legal accountability across the site. Day-to-day management is delegated to the headteacher, business manager, or site team, but the duty rests with the trust.
Responsibility is shared between the local authority as building owner and the governing body as employer. On a large, evolving site this split can leave genuine gaps, and a current site-specific assessment held by the school is the clearest evidence of compliance.
A sixth form adds older students and often a separate block or building with its own uses and hours. The assessment needs to cover it explicitly rather than folding it into the main school.
Secondaries often share sports halls, theatres, or leisure facilities with the community. Where facilities are used by outside groups, responsibility for those areas and times needs to be clear.
The problems we
hear most often
Fire safety on a secondary site is usually held by a business manager or site lead managing a large, changing estate. These are the gaps we find most regularly.
"Our science block, or another part of the site, has been refurbished, and the fire risk assessment has not been updated to reflect the changes."
Secondary sites change constantly, a refurbished science block, a new sixth form, a reorganised technology suite. Each change alters the fire risk picture, particularly in specialist rooms. We assess the site as it actually exists now, including every specialist space, rather than relying on an assessment written for an earlier layout.
"We have had attempted arson, alarm tampering, or small deliberate fires, and we are not confident our arson precautions are adequate."
Secondary schools are among the most common targets for deliberate fire-setting, and older pupils add the risk of internal tampering. Arson and security need to be addressed specifically in the assessment, covering the perimeter, waste storage, out-of-hours access, and alarm protection, rather than treated as a generic threat.
"Ofsted is coming and we want our fire safety documentation to be in order across the whole site before they arrive."
Ofsted routinely checks that fire safety arrangements are in place and documented. On a complex secondary site, that means an assessment covering every building, with a clear action log and evidence of staff training. We produce documentation that is legally compliant and inspection-ready, quickly.
What makes secondaries
different to assess
A secondary school carries hazards that simply do not exist in most premises. Specialist rooms, large sites, and older students all change what a suitable assessment has to cover.
Bunsen burners & solvents
Science laboratories combine naked flames, flammable solvents, gas supplies, and stored chemicals. Each lab needs individual attention within the assessment, covering storage, prep rooms, and the controls in place, rather than a blanket approach applied across the school.
Dust, machinery & hot works
Design technology and engineering workshops generate wood dust, run machinery, and sometimes involve welding or brazing. The combination of fine combustible dust and ignition sources is a recognised fire risk that needs assessing in its own right.
Commercial kitchens
A secondary often has both a commercial catering kitchen and food technology classrooms, both involving cooking oils, gas, and frequent use. Kitchen fires are common, and extraction, equipment, and separation from escape routes all need proper attention.
A high-risk building type
Secondary schools are statistically among the most common targets for deliberate fire-setting, with extensive perimeters, external waste, and out-of-hours access all contributing. Arson risk has to be addressed specifically, covering security, waste storage, and the perimeter.
Large multi-building campuses
A secondary is rarely one building. It is a campus of blocks of different ages and uses, often with significant travel distances and many escape routes. Each building has its own characteristics, and the assessment has to cover both the individual buildings and the site as a whole.
Vapes, phones & devices
The volume of personal devices, chargers, and increasingly confiscated vapes on a secondary site introduces lithium-ion battery fire risk, in lockers, bags, and storage. It is a newer hazard that a current assessment should recognise rather than ignore.
Fire drills — what the law actually requires
Schools are expected to hold at least one fire drill per term, and each drill must be recorded, including the date, time, number of occupants, and time taken to evacuate. On a large secondary site, the drill is where you learn whether hundreds of pupils can actually clear a complex building within a safe time, and whether every block evacuates properly. We review your drill records and evacuation procedures as part of the assessment and advise on whether your approach is adequate for your site and occupancy.
Three services.
One point of contact.
Fire risk assessments, fire door inspections, and fire safety training, delivered by one consultant who understands the specific demands of a secondary school.
Fire risk assessments
From £295 per assessmentA thorough assessment covering every building and every specialist room on your site. Clear written report, prioritised action list, and documentation suitable for Ofsted, the fire authority, and your trust or LA.
- All buildings assessed individually and as a campus
- Specialist rooms — science, DT, catering, art, IT
- Arson risk assessment including perimeter and waste
- Sixth form and out-of-hours use considered
- Lithium battery and device storage risk reviewed
- Written report suitable for Ofsted and fire authority
Fire door inspections
From £14 per doorSecondary schools have a large number of fire doors, including compartment doors between blocks and doors on busy escape routes. We inspect every component and give you a clear, photographed condition record.
- Frame, leaf, intumescent seals, hinges & hardware
- Self-closing devices and smoke seals
- Corridor, stairwell, and compartment doors
- Photographic evidence per door
- Prioritised remedial recommendations
Fire safety training
From £395 per sessionPractical, on-site training for teaching and support staff, tailored to a secondary environment and the challenge of evacuating a large, complex site.
- Fire marshal training for staff
- Hands-on extinguisher use on a live fire
- Specialist room evacuation, including labs and workshops
- Out-of-hours, sixth form, and lettings procedures
- Certificates issued to all attendees
The framework
secondary schools work within
A secondary school answers to the fire authority and to Ofsted, on a site complex enough that the documentation has to be genuinely site-specific.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to all non-domestic premises, including secondary schools. The Responsible Person must carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment, implement the measures identified, and keep a written record. On a secondary site, suitable and sufficient means an assessment that reflects the actual buildings, specialist rooms, and uses, not a generic template.
The DfE's Building Bulletin 100 (BB100) provides specific guidance on fire safety design and management for schools, and is the reference document most commonly used by fire authorities. For a secondary, BB100 is particularly relevant to the higher-hazard areas such as laboratories and technology spaces, and an assessment that aligns with it carries more weight with an inspector.
Ofsted does not carry out fire safety inspections directly, but fire safety arrangements, including a current fire risk assessment covering the whole site, evidence of staff training, and drill records, are routinely reviewed during inspection. Inadequate fire safety documentation can contribute to a safeguarding judgement.
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Always appliesThe core legislation. Requires a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment for all non-domestic premises including secondary schools. Failure to comply can result in unlimited fines or prohibition of the building.
DfE Building Bulletin 100 (BB100)
Schools guidanceGuidance on fire safety in schools, particularly relevant to laboratories and technology areas. The primary reference document for fire authorities assessing school compliance.
Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
From January 2023Requires Responsible Persons to record fire safety measures, provide information to relevant persons, and maintain records of all checks and actions. Applies to secondary schools.
Ofsted inspection framework
Inspection riskFire risk assessment records, staff training evidence, and drill logs are reviewed during inspection. Gaps can contribute to a safeguarding judgement.
Experience you can
put in a report.
Tim founded Fletcher Risk Management to bring genuine expertise and personal accountability to fire safety consultancy in the North West. With more than 30 years in the fire industry, he has assessed secondary schools and sixth forms across the region, with all the specialist hazards they carry, from science labs and workshops to commercial kitchens. He understands what it takes to assess a large, mixed-era site properly rather than generically. When you book with Fletcher Risk, Tim carries out the work.
- ABBE Level 4 Diploma in Fire Risk Assessment
- NEBOSH National General Certificate
- FPA Fire Safety Management Certificate
- Member — Fire Protection Association
Sam oversees operations and handles the coordination and documentation that keeps things running efficiently, so you have one point of contact and a consistent standard of reporting from first visit to final action log. For trusts running secondary sites across a portfolio, that means consistent documentation and a single point of contact across your schools.
- ABBE Level 4 Certificate in Fire Risk Assessment
- Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- 10+ years fire safety experience
"We have engaged Fletcher Risk Management to carry out surveys on a number of our sites for a very important client. The work produced exceeded our expectations by far. I would definitely recommend using this company." — Marie Morgan · EIS Ltd ★★★★★
"Without doubt one of the best and most professional businesses I have used for our Fire Risk Assessment. Tim Fletcher is a highly regarded professional in his field. Don't take a chance — protect your staff, protect your building."
"We have engaged Fletcher Risk Management to carry out surveys on a number of our sites. I would never hesitate to send Tim — always professional, friendly and accommodating. The work exceeded our expectations."
"Thorough, professional, and excellent value. The report was clear and the action points prioritised in a way that made it easy to know exactly what to tackle first. Would recommend without hesitation."
Book an assessment
built for your school.
Whether you need a fresh assessment, a review covering a refurbished part of the site, or training for your staff ahead of an Ofsted inspection, we can help. Call us for an honest conversation with no obligation.