Research from insurance and financial services provider Ecclesiastical (2023) revealed that four in five schools reported experiencing some form of crime in the past year alone. Incidents ranged from vandalism – with graffiti affecting three in ten schools – to trespassing, reported by 28% of institutions. These figures highlight the growing challenges schools face when it comes to safety and security, and the increasing importance of school security doors as a first line of defence against unauthorised access.
In this blog, we explore where schools are most vulnerable and how proactive measures, particularly the use of security-rated doorsets, can help protect pupils, staff and buildings.
The Wider Impact of Crime in Education Settings
Crime in schools goes far beyond broken windows or damaged walls. Vandalism and unauthorised access disrupt learning, increase anxiety among pupils and staff, and place additional strain on already stretched budgets. Ecclesiastical’s research estimates that crime has cost UK schools an average of more than £26,000 each over the past 12 months.
Perhaps most concerning, half of teachers surveyed believe their school needs to do more to prevent crime. This highlights a clear gap between existing security measures and the level of protection schools feel they require.
Why CCTV Alone Is Not Enough for School Security Doors
When considering security improvements, CCTV is often the first solution that comes to mind. Surveillance systems undoubtedly play a valuable role in monitoring activity and deterring potential offenders. However, they should not be relied upon as a standalone measure.
Cameras cannot physically prevent an intruder from entering a building, nor can they protect staff and pupils during an incident. True security requires a layered approach, starting with the physical barriers that control access to the site.
Securing the Points of Entry in Schools
Why School Security Doors Reduce Risk in Educational Buildings
School security doors play a critical role in protecting pupils, staff and school property by controlling access at vulnerable entry points.
What is often overlooked is the importance of securing the very points where threats can enter – doors, exits and access routes. As the most common points of vulnerability within a school environment, high-quality, security-rated doorsets can significantly reduce risk by deterring opportunistic crime, slowing or preventing forced entry and controlling movement throughout the building.
When combined with controlled entry solutions such as electronic locking systems or ID-based access, doorsets form a critical line of defence that helps schools manage who can access specific areas and when.
Different areas within a school have different security requirements. Classroom doors must withstand heavy daily use while supporting safeguarding and enabling quick evacuation when needed. Meanwhile, laboratories, IT suites and administrative offices often house valuable equipment or sensitive information, requiring enhanced protection and restricted access.
Installing certified school security doors as part of a wider access control strategy can significantly reduce unauthorised access and improve overall site safety.
Rethinking Fire Exit Security in Schools
Fire exits present a particular challenge. While they must follow the same principles to allow fast and safe evacuation during an emergency, they should not provide equally easy access for intruders from outside. Poorly secured fire exits are a common weak point exploited during break-ins.
Choosing compliant fire exit solutions that align with modern school security solutions helps schools balance emergency safety with protection against intrusion.
Well-designed security doorsets can balance safety and security, ensure easy exit when needed, and at the same time, prevent intruders from using fire exits as an entry point.
Security-rated fire exits, such as SECUR-DOR 2.1 security-rated fire door, demonstrate how this balance can be achieved by combining a great level of safety and protection. Through partnerships with trusted hardware manufacturers like HOPPE (UK), cost-effective panic exit systems are now available that meet the latest PAS 24 (2022) standards, without compromising on quality, performance or reliability.
Proven Standards for School Security Doors
In the UK, doorsets used for security applications must meet recognised certification standards to ensure consistent and proven protection. PAS 24 and LPS 1175 remain two of the most respected benchmarks, each assessing resistance to forced entry under rigorous testing conditions.
Systems such as SECUR-DOR 2.1 are tested to these standards, giving schools confidence that the doorset will perform as expected during an attempted intrusion or an emergency evacuation. Up to 60 minutes fire resistance is available on request, ensuring that schools have confidence that the doorset will perform effectively in the event of a fire.
SECUR-DOR 2.1 also meets growing expectations around energy efficiency. Its thermal rating of 1.5 W/(m²K) exceeds the Part L requirement of 1.6 W/(m²K) for external non-domestic doors, helping educational buildings improve sustainability without compromising strength. Constructed from Magnelis® steel, the doorset offers superior corrosion resistance and long-term durability. The material’s unique self-healing protective layer forms naturally along cut edges, extending product lifespan, reducing maintenance requirements and supporting a robust anti-corrosion warranty of up to ten years.
As schools seek to enhance safety and security, the message is increasingly clear – effective protection and safeguarding comes from security-rated doorsets. With the right doorset, fire exits are no longer a weak link in the school’s security system, offering robust protection from intruders.
For more information on our security door solutions for schools, contact our estimators on 01782 592900 or .
Source: School crime incidents up 15 per cent on previous year | Education Business
