Safer Surrey Schools Award awarded for the first time to The Matthew Arnold School in Staines.

 

 

Safer Surrey Schools Award

Most improved School In the Country 2008 – Matthew Arnold School has been awarded yet another first time accolade. It is the first school to receive a Safer Surrey Schools Award by the County Safety Management group (which comprises the County Council, Surrey Fire & Rescue and Surrey Police).

The school had to demonstrate that it satisfied the judges in 5 categories: Alcohol, Anti Social behaviour, Personal safety, Bullying and Truancy, Safer school environment and safe routes to school. Brian Kingston, Anti Social Behaviour Officer in Spelthorne Borough said:

“The Speak Out Now system allows schools to tackle anti social behaviour, improve on personal safety and bullying and truancy, making the school a much safer environment”.

Brian said that bullying is a key issue but that the system ticks many of the other boxes as well and was given the vote of confidence by the students who decided to spend the £500 prize money on the system. Brian is working with 5 other secondary schools in the cluster group who he hopes will adopt the system and receive £500 funds, which can be spent on their own system when they too qualify for the Safer Surrey Schools Award.