How to Protect Students from Violence in School?
Health & safety of students should be the top priority for every school.
In safe and secure school environment, students can focus on learning, building friendships, and developing skills they need for a bright future. Ideally, school should be a place where children can thrive.
But unfortunately, school can also be a place of fear and danger for many students.
Violence in school is a harsh reality that includes bullying, harassment, and even physical harm from peers or, in some cases, teachers. These threatening situation highlights the serious need for strong safety measures to protect students from violence in schools. Thus, schools should adopt comprehensive strategies and protocols to address these threats.
In this blog by Wihkum, we’ll explore effective safety measures to prevent violence and protect students in schools. We’ll also introduce you to our emergency response app. A powerful tool to enhance safety in schools.
So, keep reading to find the best ways to improve school security.
Rising School Violence in Australia | Alarming Statistics
Bullying, harassment, and violence in Australian schools is a serious problem. These situations disrupt a number of human rights including the students’ right to education as well.
Here are some facts highlighting a serious rise in violence in schools:
- Over 20% of males and 15% of females aged 8 to 18 years are reporting being bullied at least once a week. (Source: humanrights.gov.au)
- Globally, half of students aged 13 – 15; some 150 million, report experiencing peer-to-peer violence in and around school. Additionally, more than 1 in 3 students of 13 – 15 experience bullying, and the same number is involved in physical fights. (Source: unicef.org)
- Of those reporting physical violence in Australia, a staggering 96.3 % was at the hands of students. (Source: sstuwa.org.au)
- More than 1.4 million criminal incidents took place in educational facilities in years 2019-2020. (Source: nces.ed.gov)
- About 70% or 160,000 children of 12–13 years experienced at least 1 bullying behaviour within 1 year before the survey (2016). (Source: aihw.gov.au)
Impact of School Violence on Students
The effects of violence in school are more than just an immediate physical harm. Some of the worst effects include:
- Emotional and Psychological Trauma
Violence victims or witnesses often live with long-term psychological problems, including anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The fear of further harm makes them feel unsafe, even in a safe place.
- Decline in Academic Performance
Violence at school directly impacts a student’s ability to focus and participate in their studies. Fear and stress lead to declining grades, absenteeism, and out-of-school activities where students become disengaged from learning activities. All these combine in the long run to affect their academic outcomes.
- Withdrawal from School and Social Activities
Many victim students avoid extracurricular activities. They withdraw from sports, club, or social situations with peers. This put them in emotional distress that further leads to social isolation.
- Long-term Mental Problems
Extreme violence inside a school can leave the student with lifelong mental disorders. In other words, most of the students will suffer chronic anxiety or depression or behavioural problems.
Hence, these threatening scenarios require ongoing support and safety measures at schools.
Before jumping onto the safety strategies, it’s important to understanding the different types of school violence first. That way it would be easy to implement child protection policies in school.
So, let’s have a quick look at them:
Different Types of Violence in Schools
- Bullying and Harassment: Physical, verbal, emotional harm that can lead to severe psychological distress.
- Physical Fights: Range from minor punch-ups to serious fights that result in injuries.
- Weapon-Related Incidents: Lead to serious injuries and fatalities.
- Cyberbullying: Use of electronic means to harass, threaten, or humiliate another student.
- Gang-Related Violence: Leads to the conflicts that threaten the safety of the entire school community.
Learn more about: School Violence in WA: Protect Staff & Students with Wihkum App
10 Effective Security Measures to Protect Students from Violence in Schools
To prevent violence and protect students, schools should implement protective education programs that include prevention, intervention, and response strategies.
Here are some key strategies to improve safety in schools:
1. Executing a Protective Education Program
Child Protective Education Programs should be held to teach students the skills they need to stay safe and protected. These programs cover a range of topics, like:
- recognizing and reporting unsafe situations
- importance of respecting others
- strategies for dealing with bullying or harassment
2. Incorporating Best Practices to Empower Students
Students who have experienced violence need consistent support to help them heal and do well in school. This can include access to counseling, peer support, and mental health resources.
To empower students and meet these needs, schools should:
- Encourage students to speak up.
- Create a school culture where students feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and concerns.
- Educate students about their rights, especially their right to:
- Be protected from harm
- Speak on matters that affect them
- Be healthy and safe
- Receive important information
- Encourage friendships and peer support to help students feel safe and connected.
- Ensure staff and volunteers are aware of the signs of harm and know how to support students.
- Offer age-appropriate programs and information on preventing sexual abuse, especially in settings like boarding schools.
- Provide opportunities for students to participate in decision-making, boosting their confidence and engagement.
- Include these practices in the school’s curriculum planning and other key documents to ensure they are consistently applied.Top of FormBottom of Form
Learn more about: What to Do in Case of an Armed Intruder?
3. Upgrading School Security with Protective Factors
Creating a safe environment at schools involves a combination of physical security upgrades and clear, actionable procedures. These protective factors include:
- Adding observation cameras (surveillance monitoring inside and out)
- Holding regular safety drills
- Managing access to the school buildings
- Making designated drop-off locations and parking lots for both staff and student.
4. Combating Social Isolation
Every student deserves to feel seen and included. Social isolation isn’t just about being alone physically. A student can be surrounded by others but still feel disconnected, invisible, or unimportant.
So, here are some strategies schools should adapt to improve social wellness of the students:
- Organising inclusive activities like after-school programs, clubs, or social events.
- Encouraging peer support to classmates who may be feeling left out, fostering a sense of community and belonging.
- Build positive relationships where all students feel valued, ensuring no one is left on the sidelines.
It’s important to help students identify trusted friends and adults they can turn to if they have concerns. Empowering students with the knowledge that adults are responsible for their safety and that they have the right to be safe is key to building a secure and supportive school environment.
5. Having Effective Emergency Response Plans
It’s also important for schools to have detailed emergency plans that guide everyone on what to do if violence occurs. Additionally, schools should teach students practical strategies to protect themselves, such as:
- Knowing actions to take when they feel unsafe.
- Understanding how to report safety concerns.
- Learning phrases to use if they need to speak up.
- Practicing safe behaviours online.
Further, providing students with contact information for child support services or helplines is also important.
Additionally, schools can offer a variety of age-appropriate books—both fiction and non-fiction. On themes like children’s rights, student empowerment, cultural diversity, and the representation of different sexual orientations and gender identities.
6. Implementing Policies to Combat Bulling
Schools should have strict anti-bullying policies in place, with clear consequences for those who engage in bullying behaviour.
These policies should be communicated to all students, staff, and parents, and enforced consistently. By taking a strong stance against bullying, schools can protect vulnerable students and promote a more positive school climate.
Learn more about: Bullying in School | How to deal with being bullied
7. Engaging Parents and the Community
Parents and the broader community play an important role in protection of students in schools.
Schools should engage with parents to keep them informed about safety policies and encourage them to reinforce these messages at home.
Community partnerships can also provide additional resources and support for school safety initiatives.
8. Adopting the Safe Schools Declaration
The Safe Schools Declaration is an international commitment to protect schools and universities from attack during armed conflict.
While not all schools can be in conflict zones, adopting the principles of the Safe Schools Declaration can still guide schools in strengthening their policies and practices to prevent violence in schools.
Committing to this declaration helps schools to protect students and uphold their right to education in a secure setting.
9. Training Teachers and Staff to Respond the Crisis
Teachers and staff are often on the front lines when it comes to identifying and addressing violence in school.
Providing them with comprehensive training on safety for teachers is important as well. This training should include:
- How to reduce conflicts
- How to identify the threat
- How to recognise signs of abuse or distress
- How to respond to emergencies
When teachers feel equipped and supported, they are better able to protect students and maintain a safe learning environment.
Learn more about: 15 Essential Security Measures To Improve School Security & Safety
10. Using Advanced Technology to Protect Students & Staff
School administration and staff should incorporate the advanced technology to cope up with emergencies and threatening situations. We have the right tool for you!
Our innovative emergency response app helps protect students and improve school safety and security. With advanced tools and technology, Wihkum app not only helps preventing violence. It also ensures that the response is immediate and effective when emergencies occur.
Let’s see how Wihkum helps protecting students in school:
- Real-Time Alerts
In the event of an emergency, the Wihkum app allows school staff to send real-time alerts to all relevant parties, including administrators, security personnel, and first responders. This ensures a coordinated and swift response, minimizing the risk to students and staff.
- GPS Tracking & Geofence
We use these advanced technologies to help schools monitor the location of staff and students during any violent situation. This ensures that all areas are accounted for immediately.
- Customisable Emergency Procedures
Schools can use the Wihkum app according to their specific needs by creating custom emergency response procedures.
Whether it’s a lockdown due to an intruder or a need to evacuate due to a fire, the app guides users through the necessary steps, ensuring that no critical actions are overlooked.
- Comprehensive Incident Reporting
The app includes a feature for documenting incidents, making it easier for schools to track and analyse data on violence in school. This information can be used to identify trends, assess the effectiveness of safety measures at schools, and improve future responses.
Let’s take your school’s safety and security measures to the next level.
Protect Students in Schools with Wihkum’s Advanced Safety Measures
With Wihkum, help for school students is always just a tap away.
Don’t wait for an emergency to take action.
Equip your school with Wihkum’s innovative solution and ensure that your students, staff, and community are protected.