How to Help Students Feel Safe in Schools | Best Practices
Creating a safe and supportive environment for students is important for their academic success and emotional well-being. When students feel safe, they’re more engaged in their learning, perform better in class, and build stronger social connections. Teachers work hard to establish a positive culture within the classroom.
But what about the spaces outside the classroom; like hallways, playgrounds, and cafeterias?
Recent data from the OECD’s PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) reveals that Australian students report feeling less safe than the international average, particularly in areas outside the classroom.
So, how can schools ensure that students feel secure in every part of the school, not just within their classroom?
In this blog post, we’ll explore effective, school-wide strategies for promoting safety of students in all areas of school. Additionally, we’ll highlight Wihkum’s role in helping schools in emergencies and making students feel safe and secured.Top of Form
Let’s get started.
Students’ Perceptions of Safety in School | Facts & Figures
The ‘feeling safe at school’ index is used to measure the safety perceptions across countries.
Positive scores show that students feel safer compared to their peers in other nations. While negative scores indicate lower feelings of safety.
Australia’s score came in at -0.12.
This suggests that Australian students, on average, feel less safe than students in other countries. But the majority of Australian students reported feeling safe in specific areas. Over 90% of students felt safe; resulting in:
- 93% in their classrooms
- 95% on their way to school
- 94% on their way home
Comparatively, the percentage was slightly lower for other areas of the school; with 88% of students reporting safety in areas such as hallways, cafeterias. Source: teachermagazine.com/
While most Australian students feel safe at school, the data shows some significant differences when looking at factors such as state, gender, and socioeconomic background:
State and Demographic Differences
- By State: Students in the Northern Territory reported feeling less safe compared to those in other regions.
- By Gender: Female students generally felt less safe than male students. Female students had a safety index score one-quarter below the average. While male students’ scores were closer to the average.
- By Socioeconomic Background: Students from poor backgrounds reported feeling much less safe than their peers from more privileged backgrounds. Even students from average socioeconomic backgrounds felt less safe than those from wealthier families.
- By First Nations Background: Students from First Nations backgrounds reported a significantly lower sense of safety compared to non-First Nations students.
In a study involving 585 public high school students, 24.7% of students reported feeling unsafe at school, and 14.4% avoided school because they felt unsafe. Source: researchgate.net/
Additionally, a recent survey also shows students reported feeling unsafe occasionally or often:
- 11% of Year 3-6 students
- 20% of Year 7-12
Moreover, 44% of Year 7-12 students said they had feared harm or bullying at least once during the school year, with 28% missing school at least once because of these concerns. Source: ccyp.wa.gov.au/
These statistics highlight the need for a school-wide approach to student safety. This should focus on all areas students use throughout their day. Improving the school climate and reducing bullying and harassments can help increase students’ feelings of safety.
Now, let’s explore how we can create safer environments in every corner of the school to ensure students feel secure and supported at all times.
9 Practical Considerations for Helping Students Feel Safe in Schools
1. Creating Safe Spaces Beyond the Classroom
Ensuring student safety in all areas—not just the classroom—is essential.
Hallways, restrooms, and playgrounds should be secure and monitored to make students feel protected wherever they are on campus. A whole-school approach to safety promotes a welcoming environment across all spaces. This will help students stay focused, confident, and engaged.
Physical safety starts with a well-maintained environment. Regular cleaning and ensuring proper lighting in common areas; like hallways, playgrounds, restrooms, and cafeterias, are important. School staff should conduct routine safety checks to quickly address any potential hazards and maintain a safe atmosphere for everyone.
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2. Ensuring Active Adult Presence in Common Areas
Having adults visible and engaged during non-classroom times; like recess, lunch, and before and after school, creates a more secure environment. This presence not only prevents negative behaviours but also reassures students that adults are nearby if they need help.
3. Setting Clear School-Wide Expectations for Safe Behaviour
Safety isn’t just about the environment. It’s about behaviour, too. By establishing clear, school-wide expectations for safe conduct, schools can encourage positive interactions among students and staff.
Teachers, parents, and administrators should model these behaviours. And students should be regularly acknowledged for displaying safe conduct both inside and outside the classroom.
Explore more about: Protective behaviours | School Safety Anti-Victim Program
4. Empowering Students to Contribute to School Safety
When students feel involved, they’re more likely to take responsibility for maintaining a safe school environment. Schools can encourage student participation through councils, safety committees, or peer support groups where students can share their concerns and suggest solutions. Listening to students’ ideas fosters a collective commitment to safety.
Educators should model empathy and understanding while encouraging students to share their thoughts and feelings openly. When students feel heard, their perceptions of their safety at school improve, and they’re more likely to speak up about concerns.
5. Promoting Cultural Safety and Inclusion
To improve students’ feelings of safety, schools should foster a culture of respect and inclusivity. It’s because a strong emphasis on building positive relationships among students and between students and staff can significantly boost students’ sense of belonging and security.
Additionally, students must feel respected and understood in their cultural identities. This means addressing power imbalances and actively promoting equality to create a culturally safe space for everyone.
6. Offering Safe, Confidential Reporting Channels
Students need accessible ways to report safety concerns confidentially.
Schools can provide suggestion boxes, anonymous reporting apps, or designated staff members trained in handling sensitive issues. Having these options can be helpful for students facing interpersonal challenges who may hesitate to speak up.
7. Establishing Clear Safety Measures & Protocols
Having a clear plan in place for handling safety issues builds trust among students, staff, and parents. Safety protocols should outline steps to take during emergencies or unsafe situations, ensuring everyone knows how to respond. This transparency demonstrates the school’s dedication to protecting everyone on campus.
For safety initiatives to be effective, they must evolve with the needs of the school community. Gathering feedback through surveys, focus groups, and feedback sessions allows schools to assess what’s working and make necessary adjustments, ensuring a continuously safe environment.
Explore more about: 10 Effective Security Measures to Protect Students from Violence in Schools
8. Promoting Students’ Mental Health Support Services
Mental health services play a key role in keeping students safe. Access to counseling, peer support programs, and mental health resources can provide students with the tools to manage stress, anxiety, and other emotional challenges.
Schools should focus on creating an environment where mental health support is accessible and encouraged. This will help build resilience in students and improve their perceptions of their safety at school.
9. Incorporating Technology to Enhance Safety | Download Wihkum App
Digital solutions, like Wihkum, enable schools to manage emergencies with precision and speed.
Wihkum’s app allows staff to discreetly send alerts from their smartphones. This ensures a quick response without alarming students. With GPS-based location tracking and multi-channel communication, Wihkum streamlines the emergency response process, supporting safety across the school and ensuring that help arrives exactly when and where it’s needed.
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Wihkum – How We Help Schools Ensure Student Safety and Welfare
Wihkum offers the tools and support needed to make your school a secure space for every student. We empower schools with innovative solutions designed to address diverse emergency scenarios effectively. Here’s how Wihkum help:
| Wihkum’s Safety Solution | How It Helps Students in Emergency Scenarios |
| Discreet Activation / Duress Alarm | Staff can activate alerts quietly without any unnecessary panic in sensitive situations. |
| Real-Time Location Tracking | Wihkum’s GPS technology provides precise location details for the alert. This allows first responders to reach students quickly and efficiently. |
| Multi-Channel Communication | Wihkum sends alerts through multiple channels; voice calls, emails, and push notifications. This ensures that key personnel are quickly notified. This rapid communication supports a coordinated response, minimising disruption and prioritising student safety. |
| Customisable Alerts for All Emergency Types | From lockdowns to medical emergencies, Wihkum’s alerts are fully adaptable to each school’s unique needs. We ensure students are supported and protected across all situations. |
Let’s Make Students Safe & Secure with Wihkum Today!