Every new member of staff joining your school in September needs fire safety awareness as a minimum. At least one person per floor or building should hold a current fire marshal certificate. If you're a school business manager planning induction training, August is the last practical window to get those bookings confirmed. This guide covers which courses to prioritise, what the law actually requires, and how to get your team trained in Cumbria before the first day of term.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, every school must appoint a "responsible person" who makes sure all staff receive appropriate fire safety training. That training must be provided when staff join the school, when their role changes, and whenever the fire risk assessment is updated.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 reinforces this. It places a general duty on employers to provide information, instruction, training, and supervision to keep employees safe. For schools, that means new teaching assistants, lunchtime supervisors, and support staff all need training before they take on any supervisory responsibility for children.
Fire safety awareness and fire marshal training are two different things. Every member of staff needs awareness training covering evacuation procedures, alarm activation points, and assembly locations. Fire marshals go further. They learn to carry out a sweep of their area, use extinguishers if safe to do so, and liaise with the fire service on arrival.
There is no fixed legal ratio, but Home Office guidance recommends at least one fire marshal per floor, per building. For a primary school with a single building and two floors, that means a minimum of two trained marshals. Most schools find they need more to cover absences, PPA time, and staff turnover.
If you lost a fire marshal to another school over the summer, or a new block is opening in September, August is the time to fill the gap. Wait until October and your school is operating without adequate cover during the first half-term.
The first mistake is assuming fire safety awareness is the same as fire marshal training. A 20-minute online induction module covers the basics, but it does not qualify anyone to act as a marshal. Fire marshal training is a hands-on, half-day course that includes practical extinguisher use.
The second is letting certificates lapse without noticing. Fire marshal certificates are typically valid for three years, but if nobody tracks expiry dates, schools can find themselves without a single current marshal. Check your records now. Don't leave it until September.
The third is forgetting about site-specific roles. A caretaker who locks up alone needs lone worker awareness. Staff who move furniture or PE equipment may need manual handling training. The fire risk assessment should identify who needs what, so review it alongside your staffing plan for September.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, schools must have sufficient trained staff to implement their evacuation plan from day one. If your fire marshals have left or their certificates have expired, you are not compliant. Book replacements in August to avoid a gap.
It depends on the role. Here is a practical breakdown for school business managers building an August training plan.
For nurseries attached to schools, the paediatric first aid requirement is non-negotiable. The EYFS framework requires a qualified paediatric first aider to be on the premises and available at all times when children are present. If your current first aider is leaving, August is the last realistic booking window before September.
CFST runs fire marshal training courses at the Penrith training centre and on-site at schools across Cumbria, from Carlisle down to Kendal and Barrow-in-Furness. A half-day course covers fire science, risk awareness, evacuation procedures, and practical extinguisher use. Delegates receive a CPD-accredited certificate valid for three years.
For schools booking multiple courses, it often makes sense to run them on the same INSET day. A morning session for fire marshal training and an afternoon for first aid refreshers means less disruption. It also cuts travel costs if the trainer comes to you.
Book your place on the next Penrith course at cumbriafiresafetytraining.co.uk/up-coming-courses, or call to arrange on-site training at your school before the summer break ends.
Fire marshal certificates are typically valid for three years. After that, a refresher course is needed to maintain compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Schools should track expiry dates centrally and book refreshers before certificates lapse.
No. All staff need fire safety awareness, which covers evacuation procedures and alarm points. Fire marshal training is for designated individuals who will take an active role during an evacuation, such as sweeping their area and coordinating with the fire service. Most schools need at least one marshal per floor.
For schools with an early years or nursery provision, yes. The EYFS framework requires a qualified paediatric first aider to be present at all times when children are on site. For Key Stage 1 and 2 staff without early years responsibility, a standard first aid at work certificate satisfies the First Aid Regulations 1981.
CPD accredited fire safety and first aid training delivered online or at your premises anywhere in Cumbria.
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