A critical incident may be defined as any sudden and unexpected incident or sequence of events which cause trauma within a school community, and which overwhelms the normal coping mechanisms of that school.
Critical Incidents affecting schools may include:
- Property failure
- The death of a pupil(s) or member(s) of staff through sudden accident, murder, terminal illness or suicide.
- A serious accident involving pupils and school personnel on or off school premises.
- A violent attack or violent intrusion onto school premises, e.g. involving an armed intruder or a bomb alert.
- Fire, flood, building collapse or major vandalism in school.
- A hostage situation.
- A significant event in the community, e.g. transport accident, terrorism.
Whatever the scale of the incident, the effect on the individuals involved can be equally devastating. This Critical Incidents page explains the support available to schools in these situations.
In the Burgundy Pack, the Guidance for Managing Critical or Major Incidents has been produced by the Educational Psychology Service and the Health & Safety Service and it was reviewed in January 2025.
Learn more:
School Closure Notification
Civil Contingencies Act 2004
Protective security and preparedness for education settings
