From the Service:
Safe & Loved School Vulnerability Assessments

When people talk about school safety,
most picture locks, cameras, and metal detectors.

Those things matter.
But they only tell half the story.

True safety—the kind that actually protects people and prevents violence—has two sides: 

Mechanical protection AND human connection. 

Mechanical protection is the structure.
It’s the doors that close and lock. The alarm that signals danger.
The cameras that record. The systems that give you seconds when seconds matter most. 

Mechanical devices will stop a threat from getting in, but they can’t stop what’s already growing inside. 

That’s where human connection comes in. 

Connection is the heartbeat of a safe school.
It’s the teacher who notices a quiet student withdrawing and acts to bring them back. It’s a smiling custodian who says good morning every day and the principal who listens before reacting, creating trust and respect. 

The danger we face isn’t choosing between mechanical or human safety—it’s believing we can succeed with just one. 

A school with only mechanical protection can feel secure but cold.
A school with only human connection can feel warm but unprepared. 

You need both if you want to be safe. 

When mechanical and human safety work hand in hand and not in competition—something powerful happens. 

You build a school that is both Safe & Loved.