Gibraltar NASUWT have issued a statement following yesterday’s security breach at Westside School. 

A statement from Gibraltar NASUWT follows below:

Gibraltar NASUWT is gravely concerned about yesterday’s security breach at Westside  School.

While the Government provided assurances that there was no immediate danger,  had the intruders had malevolent intentions, the outcome could have been catastrophic. The  fact that persons unknown were able to infiltrate the secondary campus and Westside School  classroom areas more specifically undeniably elevated the risk to student and staff safety.  Lamentably, this left some students seriously affected and shaken by this avoidable  emergency. 

This incident highlights critical shortcomings in school security and emergency preparedness.  The fact that students and teachers felt the need to barricade themselves in classrooms is  deeply concerning and underscores the urgent need for a thorough review of security  measures across all schools in Gibraltar. 

This incident also raises wider concerns about school security policies, staff training, and  emergency response planning. Schools must have clear, well-communicated protocols to  address security threats swiftly and effectively. However, reports from teachers indicate that  current provisions are inadequate. For instance, no whole school fire drills have been  conducted at Westside School since the start of the academic year in September 2024, and  there are no established contingency measures for incidents like yesterday’s shared with  staff. The response, which according to teachers, involved an announcement over the  school’s PA system from the Head teacher instructing staff and students to remain in  classrooms, was reactive rather than part of a structured security protocol. Such measures  must be part of a comprehensive safety plan that is regularly reviewed, practiced, and  communicated to all staff and students. Importantly, these procedures should be covered in  security policies and discussed during INSET training days to ensure that teachers are well informed and prepared for such situations. 

Gibraltar NASUWT is aware that the Department of Education has earmarked emergency  response training for schools to practice during INSET days in the academic year 2025/2026.  However, this is simply not good enough. Some of Gibraltar’s new schools were built over six  years ago. Why this has not been a top priority for the Department of Education and senior  management from day one is gravely concerning. Gibraltar NASUWT is not aware of  structured incident evacuation plans, school lockdown protocols, or proactive measures for  dealing with emergencies, as these have never been shared with the union. This is despite  the union having raised these issues on a regular basis during meetings with the Department  of Education. A delay in implementing these fundamental security measures places both staff  and students at unnecessary risk.

Effective school security goes beyond locked doors and the presence of security guards at  school entrance gates, an arrangement that is insufficient given the challenge of monitoring  a single entry and exit point for two schools with hundreds of students moving through at  once. Ensuring a safe environment requires continuous vigilance, particularly from school  management, which plays a crucial role in reinforcing security measures. Senior staff must  maintain a visible presence at key times throughout the school day, taking a proactive  approach to monitoring entry points and preventing unauthorised access. This responsibility  cannot be borne exclusively by security guards. The presence of senior school management  during critical periods, such as arrival, dismissal, and lunch breaks, would establish much  needed security protocols and create a safer learning environment. Security must remain an  ongoing priority, integrated into daily operations, rather than being addressed reactively in  response to incidents. 

This incident must serve as a turning point. It is important that robust, visible, and well communicated security measures are implemented without delay so that all students and  staff feel equipped to deal with any eventuality and parents are reassured that their children  are safe in our schools. Gibraltar NASUWT calls on the Government and relevant authorities  to take immediate action to ensure that all Gibraltar schools have comprehensive and clearly  defined security procedures in place to prevent and effectively manage any future incidents.