Fire safety for schools,
academies & colleges.
Properly assessed, from £295.
Schools present a fire risk profile unlike any other premises — large numbers of children, complex multi-building sites, high arson exposure, and a legal framework that spans both the fire safety order and DfE building regulations. We work with headteachers, bursars, and business managers across the North West to make sure the assessment reflects the reality of your site.
Who is the Responsible Person in a school?
It depends on the type of school — and many schools carry this responsibility without fully realising it.
The academy trust is the Responsible Person and employer. The trust board carries legal accountability for fire safety across all schools in the trust. Day-to-day management is typically delegated to the headteacher or business manager, but the legal duty rests with the trust.
Responsibility is shared between the local authority (as building owner) and the governing body (as employer). In practice this can create gaps — each party assuming the other has dealt with fire safety. A current, site-specific assessment held by the school is the clearest evidence of compliance.
The proprietor or governing body is the Responsible Person. Independent schools are also subject to ISI or Ofsted inspection, where fire safety records are routinely reviewed.
The corporation is the Responsible Person. FE colleges often occupy complex multi-building campuses where responsibility for different blocks may be unclear without an explicit fire safety management plan.
The problems we
hear most often
Fire safety in schools is often managed by whoever has inherited the responsibility — a caretaker, a business manager, or a bursar juggling it alongside twenty other things. These are the gaps we find most regularly.
"Our assessment was done by the previous caretaker. He retired and nobody knows if it's still valid or where the documentation is."
This is one of the most common situations we encounter. Fire safety documentation in schools frequently lives in one person's head or one person's filing system — and when that person leaves, the continuity goes with them. We carry out fresh assessments that give you a clean, documented baseline and clear recommendations for ongoing management, whoever is responsible next year.
"We've had a new building added to the site, or significant building work. Nobody has reviewed the fire safety assessment to account for the changes."
School sites evolve constantly — new classrooms, temporary buildings, sixth form blocks, refurbished science blocks. Each material change to the building or site layout should trigger a review of the fire risk assessment. An assessment written for the school as it was five years ago is not adequate for the school as it is today. We assess the site as it actually exists, including all temporary and permanent structures.
"Ofsted is coming and one of the areas flagged in our last inspection was fire safety documentation. We need to get this sorted."
Ofsted inspections routinely check that fire safety arrangements are in place and properly documented. A fire risk assessment carried out by a qualified, competent assessor — with a clear action log and evidence of staff training — is the standard that satisfies an Ofsted inspector. We can produce documentation that is both legally compliant and inspection-ready, quickly.
What makes schools
different to assess
Schools are not offices. The occupant profile, site complexity, and risk factors are fundamentally different — and an assessment needs to reflect that.
Children & young people
The primary occupants of a school are children — who respond to fire differently from adults, who may not understand instructions under stress, and who require a structured, well-rehearsed evacuation plan. The assessment must reflect how pupils will actually behave in an emergency, not how adults would.
One of the highest-risk building types
Schools are statistically among the most common targets for deliberate fire-setting in the UK. Out-of-hours access, extensive perimeters, external waste storage, and the presence of combustible materials (paper, art supplies, science lab chemicals) all contribute. Arson risk must be specifically addressed in the assessment, not treated as a generic threat.
Multi-building campuses
Most schools are not a single building — they are a campus of buildings of different ages, construction types, and uses. Each building may have different fire risk characteristics. A single generic assessment for a complex school site is rarely adequate. We assess each building and the site as a whole.
Specialist rooms & substances
Science laboratories, design technology workshops, art rooms, and catering facilities all introduce specific fire hazards — Bunsen burners, flammable solvents, wood dust, cooking oils. These rooms require individual attention within the assessment, not a blanket approach.
Mixed-era construction
Many school sites have buildings spanning decades — a Victorian main building alongside a 1970s science block and a new academy extension. Each era of construction has different fire safety characteristics. Compartmentation in older buildings, cladding on newer ones, and the interface between them all require specific assessment.
Lettings & community use
Many schools let their premises out of hours — for sports clubs, community groups, adult education, or holiday programmes. Each use introduces different occupants who are unfamiliar with the site and its evacuation procedures. The fire risk assessment must account for out-of-hours use, not just the school day.
Fire drills — what the law actually requires
Schools are required to hold at least one fire drill per term under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and DfE guidance. The drill must be recorded — including the date, time, number of occupants, and time taken to evacuate. Where the drill identifies issues, those issues must be documented and addressed. We can review your drill records and evacuation procedures as part of our assessment, and advise on whether your current 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 school environment.
Fire risk assessments
From £295 per assessmentA thorough, site-specific assessment covering every building on your campus. Clear written report, prioritised action list, and documentation suitable for Ofsted, the fire authority, and your academy trust or LA.
- All buildings assessed individually and as a campus
- Specialist rooms — labs, DT, catering, art
- Arson risk assessment including perimeter and waste
- Out-of-hours and lettings use considered
- Evacuation strategy review for pupil occupancy
- Written report suitable for Ofsted and fire authority
Fire door inspections
From £14 per doorSchools typically have a large number of fire doors — corridor doors, classroom doors on escape routes, fire compartment doors between blocks. We inspect every component and give you a clear condition record.
- Frame, leaf, intumescent seals, hinges & hardware
- Self-closing devices and smoke seals
- Corridor, classroom, and stairwell 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 school environment — covering the specific challenges of evacuating classrooms, managing pupils under stress, and out-of-hours procedures.
- Fire marshal training for staff
- Hands-on extinguisher use on a live fire
- Classroom evacuation procedures
- Out-of-hours and lettings staff training
- Certificates issued to all attendees
The framework
schools operate within
Schools answer to more regulatory bodies than most premises. Fire safety documentation needs to satisfy all of them.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to all non-domestic premises — including schools. The Responsible Person must carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment, implement all measures identified, and keep a written record. In a school context, "suitable and sufficient" means an assessment that reflects the actual occupants, buildings, and uses of the site — 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 when assessing school compliance. An assessment that aligns with BB100 carries significantly more weight with an inspector than one that does not reference it.
Ofsted does not carry out fire safety inspections directly, but fire safety arrangements — including the existence and currency of a fire risk assessment, evidence of staff training, and drill records — are routinely reviewed during inspection. Section 10 of the Ofsted Education Inspection Framework covers safeguarding and premises, and 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 schools. Failure to comply can result in unlimited fines or prohibition of the building.
DfE Building Bulletin 100 (BB100)
Schools guidanceStatutory guidance from the Department for Education on fire safety in schools. The primary reference document for fire authorities and academy trusts when assessing school fire safety compliance.
Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
From January 2023Requires Responsible Persons to record fire safety measures, provide fire safety information to relevant persons, and maintain records of all checks and actions. Applies to schools.
Ofsted inspection framework
Inspection riskFire safety arrangements including risk assessment records, staff training evidence, and drill logs are reviewed during Ofsted 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 schools, academies, and educational buildings of all types across the region. He understands the specific challenges of school sites — mixed-era buildings, complex campus layouts, and the particular fire risk presented by arson-targeted premises. 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 — Institute of Fire Safety Managers
- Member — Fire Protection Association
Sam oversees operations and handles the coordination and documentation that keeps things running efficiently. For academy trusts managing fire safety across multiple schools, Sam's operational background means we can work systematically across a portfolio — consistent documentation, consistent standards, and one point of contact for the trust's central team.
- 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 of existing documentation, or training for your staff ahead of an Ofsted inspection — we can help. Call us for an honest conversation with no obligation.