We don’t support the unsupervised access of firearms in schools. However, we do acknowledge that there may be legitimate circumstances where firearms may be part of students’ education or sporting activities.

Current legislation allows firearms in schools under strict conditions. These guidelines are designed to support schools to have the correct policy and processes in place. The guidelines are based on 2 principles:

Principle 1: All schools are required to provide a lawful and safe physical and emotional environment for students and staff. A safe and lawful environment for students and staff is of paramount importance and therefore must be the primary concern when applying the guidelines.

Principle 2: Parents/caregivers, students and the public will have a valid expectation that schools will develop a written policy and procedures to cover circumstances where students are involved in activities relating to firearms and that they will advise parents/caregivers accordingly. Schools must be mindful of these expectations.

Guidelines

The guidelines will support boards of trustees to:

• understand their roles and responsibilities
• ensure they meet their obligations under the Arms Act 1983, Arms Regulations 1992 and Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
• clarify situations when firearms are permitted in schools and the processes that must be followed.