Urgent Incidents
What to do when a serious incident affects your school or trust, and how to notify the DfE Risk Protection Arrangement without delay.
Act first, then report
When a serious incident happens, the immediate priority is the safety of pupils, staff and visitors. Once people are safe and any emergency services needed have been called, the incident should be reported to the RPA as early as possible.
What to have ready
Gather these details before you make the call or submit the notification.
- Date, time and exact location of the incident
- A short factual description of what happened
- Names or roles of the people affected
- Actions already taken to make the site safe
- Details of any emergency services involved
- Any photographs or written records already held
The reporting sequence
Secure the site
Protect people from further harm and follow your own emergency procedures before anything else.
Record the facts
Write down what you know, when you learned it, and who was involved. Separate facts from opinions.
Notify the RPA
Tell the RPA team as soon as the situation allows, even if some details are still unconfirmed.
Keep the evidence
Preserve CCTV, photographs, emails and logs. Do not alter or discard anything relevant.
Follow up
Update the RPA as new information emerges and respond promptly to any requests for documents.
Keeping the record accurate
An accurate, dated record protects your setting. Note each action taken and the time it was taken, and avoid speculation about cause until it has been established.
Working with the RPA team
The RPA team will ask for information in stages. Keep one named colleague responsible for communication so that updates are consistent and nothing is lost. If you are unsure what to do next, you can reach the team through the contact page.
After the immediate response
Once the immediate risk has passed, review your procedures with governors and staff. Use the learning to update your risk assessments and to prevent a repeat. For general background on the scheme, return to the home page.