Every new member of staff who joins your school this September needs to understand fire safety before they supervise a single child. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the “responsible person” (usually the headteacher or governing body) must make sure all employees receive adequate fire safety instruction and training.^* For school business managers, that means building a training schedule now. Not in October when corridors are full and diaries are blocked.

This guide sets out exactly which fire safety courses your new staff need, who counts as a fire marshal in a school setting, and how to get everyone trained in Cumbria before the first bell rings.

What does the law require for fire safety training in Cumbria schools?

Article 21 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 states that the responsible person must provide employees with “adequate safety training” at the time they are first employed and whenever they are exposed to new or changed risks.^* For a school, this means every teaching assistant, caretaker, office administrator, and lunchtime supervisor who starts in September must receive fire safety training before they begin working unsupervised.

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 reinforces this. It places a general duty on employers to provide information, instruction, training, and supervision so far as is reasonably practicable.^{^} A new teaching assistant who hasn’t been shown the evacuation route or doesn’t know where the assembly point is represents a gap in that duty. Ofsted, insurers, and fire inspectors can all spot it.

Who needs fire marshal training in a school?

There is no fixed legal ratio for fire marshals in schools, but most fire risk assessments recommend at least one trained fire marshal per floor, plus cover for absences. If your school has two floors and a separate nursery building, you need a minimum of three trained fire marshals on site at all times during the school day.

Fire marshals are the staff who sweep their designated area during an evacuation, check toilets and store cupboards, account for everyone at the assembly point, and liaise with the fire service on arrival. Without enough trained people, evacuations become disorganised. Children get missed.

New staff taking on a fire marshal role need formal fire safety training before September. A brief induction chat is not enough to satisfy Article 21.

Common gaps school business managers miss before September

The most frequent problem is timing. Schools recruit late, sometimes into August, and assume induction week covers fire safety adequately. A 20-minute PowerPoint on the first INSET day does not constitute the “adequate training” the Fire Safety Order requires.

The second gap is coverage. Schools often train teachers but forget support staff. Lunchtime supervisors, breakfast club assistants, and peripatetic music teachers all need fire awareness training. They are on the premises. They may be the only adult in a room when the alarm sounds.

Third: refresher cycles. Fire marshal training should be refreshed annually. If existing staff are overdue, the start of term is the right moment to bring everyone up to date alongside new arrivals.

What fire safety training courses should Cumbria schools book?

For most schools, two courses cover the requirement: fire marshal training for designated marshals, and fire awareness training for all other staff. Schools with nursery or reception classes also need to consider paediatric first aid, which is a separate legal requirement under the EYFS framework.^†

CFST delivers fire marshal training in person at your school or at the Penrith training centre. Courses are CPD accredited, run for half a day, and cover fire behaviour, extinguisher use, evacuation procedures, and the legal responsibilities of a fire marshal. Your staff leave with a certificate and the confidence to lead an evacuation properly.

If you have five or more new staff to train, a group booking at your school is often the most practical option. CFST’s trainers travel across Cumbria, from Carlisle to Barrow-in-Furness, so location won’t be a problem.

A pre-September fire safety checklist for school business managers

Paediatric first aid: a linked requirement for Cumbria nurseries and primary schools

Schools with nursery provision or early years classes face an additional training duty. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework requires at least one person with a current paediatric first aid certificate to be on the premises at all times when children are present.^† The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 set out the broader legal basis for first aid provision in all workplaces, including schools.^‡

August is the last practical window to book paediatric first aid before September. CFST runs paediatric first aid courses in Penrith throughout the summer. If your existing certificate holder is leaving, you cannot start term without a replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many fire marshals does a school need?

There is no fixed legal number. Your fire risk assessment should determine the answer based on building layout, occupancy, and staffing levels. Most schools need at least one trained fire marshal per floor, with additional cover for absences and split sites.

How often should school fire marshal training be refreshed?

Fire marshal training should be refreshed annually. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires training when employees first start and whenever risks change. Annual refreshers are widely accepted as best practice for schools.^*

Can fire marshal training be done online for school staff?

Fire marshal training involves practical skills such as using extinguishers and leading evacuations. CFST delivers this training in person, either at your school or at the Penrith training centre, so that staff get hands-on experience they can apply on day one.