Education establishments

What is the education establishment?

The student or learner’s school or college.

What is their role?

• Depending on the type of school, they may be classed as the education employer, eg certain categories of maintained schools or private schools.
• They may act as the organiser to arrange work experience placements on behalf of the education employer.
• They may act as an administrator and liaise with the organiser.

The law

• The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974

Health and safety responsibilities

The Health and Safety at Work Act places duties on the employer. The employer is either:

• The local authority eg community schools, voluntary controlled schools.
• The governing body eg foundation and voluntary aided schools.
• The proprietor of private schools.

Further information can be found in the DfES publication A Guide to the Law for School Governors.

The education establishment will have further responsibilities if classed as the:

• Education employer
• Organiser

Learners often undertake work experience at a school or college, in which case the education establishment becomes a placement provider.

The education establishment should ensure that:

• The education employer’s policy on work experience is followed, and procedures monitored.
• Students are properly briefed before taking part in work experience, including on their own responsibilities for health and safety. Students should be effectively supported during the placement, and debriefed afterwards.
• Organisers are provided with relevant information about:
  • students, for example relating to health or factors which might be expected to affect their ability to understand and respond to information and instructions about health and safety at work;
  • health and safety standards where feedback indicates that risks are not properly controlled.
• Staff eg teachers who make site visits are provided with:
  • information about the provider and about site conditions which may affect their health and safety;
  • instruction and training in health and safety in relation to any risks they are likely to be exposed to in the course of their visits;
  • personal protective equipment , where appropriate, and training in how to use it.
• Employees who visit placements should take reasonable care of themselves and of others who may be affected by what they do.

Work experience – a guide for secondary schools and the useful links page contain further information.