Peel secondary school to carry out lockdown drill next week

QEII High School says exercise is part of routine emergency planning and reassures parents no threat is anticipated

Parents of pupils at Queen Elizabeth II High School have been informed that the school will carry out a planned lockdown drill next week as part of its routine emergency preparedness.

The exercise is scheduled to take place on Thursday, 15 January 2026, and will involve staff and students practising procedures designed to be used in the event of a serious internal or external safety risk.

In a letter sent to families, Headteacher Charlotte Clarke says lockdown procedures may be required in situations such as the presence or suspected presence of an intruder, a hazardous spill posing a risk from fumes, or a dangerous incident occurring near the school.

During the drill, classrooms will be locked, movement around the building restricted, and students positioned away from doors and windows.

Staff and pupils who are not in classrooms at the time will be directed into the nearest supervised room, with an all-clear signal given once the exercise has ended.

The school acknowledged that lockdown drills can be unsettling, particularly for younger students, and says assemblies have been held this week to explain the process.

Teachers have also been asked to talk pupils through the procedure in advance, drawing comparisons with routine fire drills.

Parents have been encouraged to discuss the drill at home to help reduce anxiety, with the school stressing that the exercise does not relate to any specific threat.

The letter also outlines guidance for parents in the event of a real lockdown, asking them not to come onto the school site or telephone the school, as doing so could interfere with emergency response efforts.

Mrs Clarke writes "the drill is to ensure that on the very rare occasion that a lockdown is initiated, everyone knows what to do."