8 September 2009
The governing body of St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Chalfont St Peter has pleaded guilty to breaching fire safety regulations.
The prosecution, brought by Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority, was heard at Wycombe Magistrates Court on Friday.
The governing body pleaded guilty to breaching three articles of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, including failure to take general fire precautions, failure to adequately implement the findings of a fire risk assessment and failure to appoint fire wardens. It was fined £2,250 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £5,750.
The District Judge said the breaches reflected “serious failings by the school” and acknowledged that no action had been taken by the governing body over a number of months.
Area Manager Chris Bailey said: “The prosecution was brought in the interests of public safety. These breaches were very serious and served to place children and teachers in the school at serious risk should a fire have occurred.
“This case should serve to indicate to governors, headteachers and persons in charge of schools that they must take all reasonable steps to maintain a safe environment from fire for all children in their care.”
Since 1 October 2006, Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority has run, free of charge, fire safety seminars for 370 schools. Since then, 108 schools have been inspected by fire officers and this is the only prosecution that has been brought to date.
Area Manager Bailey added: “Schools are in the group of premises categorised as being particularly vulnerable to fire. A fire in a school, as well as putting the lives of children and teachers at risk, damages the fabric and infrastructure of local communities.
“We work closely with our education authorities to ensure that all schools are safe. In general the standard of fire precautions in schools is high.
“Fires in schools can destroy course-work and consequently the career aspirations of young people. They can also cost local authorities and taxpayers considerable sums of money in rebuilding costs.”
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