FULL vs PHASED EVACUATION: Is Your School’s Strategy Really Safe?

With multi-building school sites becoming increasingly complex, many Responsible Persons are now asking the same question: “Do we need a Full Evacuation, or is a Phased approach safer for our school?”

Both methods are legitimate under UK fire safety regulations — but choosing the wrong one can create unsafe conditions during a real fire.

🔹 Full Evacuation – When Everything Stops, Everyone Moves

A Full Evacuation requires every pupil, staff member, and visitor to leave all buildings immediately and gather at a shared assembly point.

Best for:

• Small to medium schools

• Simple building layouts

• Early-stage fires requiring rapid clearance

• Settings with poor compartmentation

• Varied or inconsistent staff competency

  
  

Common failings observed in schools:

⚠ Poor communication between buildings

⚠ No coordination between fire marshals

⚠ Pupils mixing and blocking flow routes

⚠ SEND support not ready or available

⚠ Assembly points too small for full roll-call

When poorly planned, a Full Evacuation can increase evacuation times, cause unsafe crowding, and raise risk exposure.

🔹 Phased / Progressive Evacuation – Controlled Movement, Priority-Based

A Phased Evacuation moves people in a controlled sequence — starting with those at highest risk, then adjacent areas, and expanding only if needed.

Best for:

• Large campuses

• Tower blocks or multi-storey buildings

• Areas with high-dependency or SEND needs

• Schools with strong compartmentation

• Buildings with modern fire alarm cause-and-effect logic

  
  

Risks when mismanaged:

⚠ Staff not understanding their role

⚠ Zones not clearly defined

⚠ Delays in moving priority groups⚠ Alarm system not correctly programmed

🔥 Why This Matters in 2025

Schools must now demonstrate that evacuation procedures are:✔ Based on a written Fire Risk Assessment✔ Practiced termly✔ Suitable for all pupils, including SEND✔ Communicated clearly to all staff and contractors✔ Supported by accurate cause-and-effect documentation

This is backed by:

• Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

• Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022

• Building Bulletin 100 (BB100)

• Approved Document B

• Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999

  
  

🔥 Headlines to Grab Leadership Attention

Use these in your newsletter to catch the eye:

🔥 “Evacuation Delays Put Children at Risk — Is Your School Prepared?”

🔥 “Full vs Phased Evacuation: Most Schools Choose the Wrong One”

🔥 “New 2025 Fire Safety Expectations for Multi-Building Schools”

🔥 “Why Your Last Fire Drill Wasn’t Good Enough”

🔥 “SEND Evacuations: The Most Overlooked Risk in UK Schools”

✅ Closing CTA (Newsletter)

If your school hasn’t reviewed its evacuation arrangements in the last 6–12 months, now is the time.

A well-written strategy saves time. A well-tested strategy saves lives.

For support with Full Evacuation planning, Phased Evacuation, or multi-building cause-and-effect mapping, Armadillo Safety Solutions can help you get compliant, confident, and prepared.