New security rules for French schools

NEW security rules for schools in France have come into force today.

The Ministry of Education has ordered that posters of the new measures should be displayed outside of educational establishments across the country.

All children will be met by an adult at the school entrance, school bags can be searched and all visitors to the school will undergo identity checks.

Between now and the Christmas holidays all schools in France must carry out two security exercises such as evacuations.

The ministry has said that schools should pay particular attention to groups of people gathering outside the property.

It recommends that lycées should arrange special smoking zones within school grounds so that pupils do not have to leave the premises if they want a cigarette.

Parking outside of school premises has been banned and families are urged not to spend too long at entrances when dropping off or picking up their children.

Schools have also been allowed greater flexibility in their hours to control the number of pupils leaving and arriving.

In the Ile-de-France, school trips within the region are still cancelled until November 29. Those outside the region, including trips abroad, must be flagged up with educational authorities in case there are security concerns.

Outside of the Ile-de-France school trips have been allowed again after they were banned in the wake of the November 13 attacks in Paris. However, trips to the capital and the Ile-de-France region are still banned although school parties may pass through the area on the way to another location.

All school trips that had been planned to the COP 21 Climate Change talks in Paris have been cancelled.