Preparedness is protection: why the education sector needs an evacuation plan

More than 11.5 million students attend educational establishments across the UK every year. Add to that the hundreds of thousands of staff, support workers and visitors moving through educational campuses, and the scale of responsibility for safety in the education system becomes clear. Among these students, a significant proportion have mobility impairments, as of the 2024/25 academic year, over 1.7 million pupils aged 4–16 in England have special educational needs (SEN), representing approximately 18.4% of the school population. In higher education, 16.5% of students – over 484,000 individuals – have declared a disability, highlighting the importance of inclusive planning and support across all educational settings.

But amid all the systems, policies and safeguards, one crucial question remains uncomfortably unanswered: Can everyone evacuate safely in an emergency?

For almost a quarter of the population, the answer is no. Whether due to physical disability, temporary injury, medical condition or age, thousands of people in educational settings, from young children to mature students and staff, are at serious risk if a fire alarm sounds. Lifts automatically stop working if a fire alarm is activated; if there is no provision or assistive equipment in place to evacuate them; they will be left in a refuge area; waiting and hoping they will be rescued.

Evacuations are chaotic by nature. In a real emergency, there’s no time to read a plan, explain procedures or figure out who’s responsible.

Panic can spread quickly. Individuals may be distressed, disoriented or physically unable to move to safety without support. If the right equipment isn’t readily available, or if staff aren’t trained to use it, the consequences can be devastating.

The challenges are even greater in multi-storey buildings [especially older ones], where evacuation becomes more than a logistical issue – it becomes a matter of life and death.

That reality has prompted growing public concern. The #NoStudentLeftBehind campaign highlighting the story of 16-year-old Lucas Vezza-O’Brien, a wheelchair user left behind during a school fire drill, has gained national attention.

With over 100,000 people backing the call for mandatory evacuation chairs and training in every educational setting, it’s clear this isn’t a niche concern – it’s a systemic gap that demands urgent attention.

A legal duty – and a human one

Emergency planning in education isn’t just a box-ticking exercise – it’s a legal and moral obligation. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, as amended by the Fire Safety Act 2021, places a duty on a designated ‘responsible person’ – often a Headteacher or Facilities Manager – to ensure that everyone can evacuate safely, including those with limited mobility. Meanwhile, under the Equality Act 2010, schools, colleges and universities must make reasonable adjustments to ensure mobility impaired students and staff are not placed at a disadvantage.

Too often, however, these obligations are addressed through paperwork rather than action. Two key elements of emergency planning are PEEPs [Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans] and GEEPs [Generic Emergency Evacuation Plans]. PEEPs are a bespoke plan developed for an individual who requires assistance when being evacuated; created and agreed with the mobility impaired person the plan details how they will be evacuated and by whom. A GEEP is a more general, catch all plan developed for buildings used by the public or those places of work, with a transient workforce.

These plans may exist, but they’re not always reviewed, practised or supported with the right resources. A plan sitting in a folder is not a guarantee of safety. PEEPs must be regularly reviewed to ensure it remains current, along with the overall evacuation plan and reinforced through regular fire drills.

You are legally required to have a fire extinguisher on your premises to prevent fires from spreading and protect lives. So why is it acceptable for evacuation chairs and training to be overlooked? Refuge areas without a means of escape leave people waiting in fear, hoping someone will come. That’s not a plan – it’s a risk. And in some cases, it’s a breach of the very laws meant to protect them.

The right tools, in the right hands, at the right time

Preparedness goes far beyond merely having a policy in place. It requires the right equipment, proper training, and a proven plan to ensure that, in an emergency, everyone knows their role and can act confidently. This is where evacuation chairs become essential. Designed to safely move mobility impaired individuals up or down stairs.

An independent study conducted by Greenwich University concluded the Evac+Chair evacuation chair is the safest and fastest method of escape in emergency situations for those with reduced mobility. Evacuation chairs aren’t a luxury or a backup plan – they’re an essential part of inclusive safety. In too many educational settings, a missing evacuation chair means someone with a mobility impairment simply doesn’t have a way out.

Training is equally critical. An evacuation chair without confident users is just another piece of equipment gathering dust. Staff need hands-on training and regular practice to keep skills current – not just once, but throughout the year. In addition, regular maintenance ensures each evacuation chair remains fully operational and ready for use when it is needed most.

In settings with high turnover or rotating support teams, this becomes even more essential. Multiple staff members should be trained, with clear responsibilities assigned. Emergency response should never depend on just one person being present.

The physical and psychological toll of uncertainty

Recent government reports reveal that around 30 per cent of educational buildings fail to meet basic fire safety standards. Many were built long before modern accessibility laws existed, and narrow stairwells, outdated alarm systems and inaccessible exits remain far too common. In these environments, expecting a safe evacuation without the right equipment is not only unrealistic – it’s dangerous.

The impact isn’t only physical. For those living with the daily knowledge that they may be left behind in an emergency, the psychological toll is significant. It causes ongoing anxiety for students, parents and staff. The uncertainty of “what would happen to me in a fire?” becomes a barrier to inclusion and wellbeing.

Every student, every time – no exceptions

The education system rightly prides itself on inclusion, but inclusion cannot stop at the classroom door. It must extend to every corridor, stairwell and emergency plan.

It is, therefore, highly recommended that educational establishments consider installing evacuation chairs. With their proven life-saving capabilities and given the data, evacuation chairs can make a significant difference. Lightweight and easy to operate, many models require only a single trained staff member to provide a fast and safe escape. By supporting inclusive safety, evacuation chairs help minimise risks during emergencies and ensure that all occupants can be assisted effectively.

Evacuation chairs have existed for over 40 years. The technology is proven, and the benefits are clear. The only thing missing is the will to make them standard.

With growing public awareness, lived experiences like Lucas’ and national campaigns like #NoStudentLeftBehind, the time for change is now.

Claire Blakemore is managing director of Evac+Chair