GOVERNMENT WISHY WASHY ON FIRE SAFETY IN SCHOOLS - ATL

9 November 2007

The Government has again failed to act decisively to make schools install fire sprinklers, says the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL). 

Commenting on the fire guidelines put out today by the Department of Children, Schools and Families, Martin Pilkington, head of legal and member services at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said:

"This is another case of the Government being wishy washy.   We are disappointed the Government has not yet accepted the need to make it a legal requirement for fire sprinklers to be installed in all new build or refurbished schools, let alone all schools. 

“While the fire safety guidelines should help schools carry out proper fire risk assessments to safeguard against fires, the Government has again missed the opportunity to act decisively.  The lives of children are far too important to be left to chance.  ATL will continue its campaign for schools to be fitted with fire sprinklers so that all the children in the UK are properly protected against the dangers and disruption of school fires.

"About 40 people are injured in school fires every year, and over 90,000 pupils have their education disrupted as a result of fire damage to classrooms or school property.  On average every week one school is destroyed by fire - 2,000 schools a year - and school fires cost UK taxpayers £74 million in 2006.  Yet only one per cent of UK schools have a sprinkler system.  This is false economics, and it is time the Government woke up to the facts.  The dangers of buildings without sprinklers are only too clear after the tragic loss of life in the warehouse fire in Warwickshire just last week.”