Project Overview 

Loreto Grammar School, based in Altrincham, is an all-girls secondary school with more than 1,000 students and 100 staff members. The school, described by the headteacher as a ‘happy community’, is part of a bigger, worldwide Loreto community, which consists of more than 120 schools and 70,000 students. It has become an academy and a specialist maths and science school.  

The large campus – and hundreds of pupils – make a reliable, up-to-date fire and security system paramount for protecting children, staff, and property.  

Chubb had worked successfully with the school on a range of CCTV, intruder detection, access control and fire contracts. Loreto first had an access control system installed by Chubb in 2019. The latest project was additions to the existing control system due to changes within the building.  

The access control protects staff and pupils entering the school buildings and visitors to the campus. The electronic security covers the external entrances and high-value areas within the school. Chubb also supplies the school’s fire alarms and fire extinguishers, carries out regular risk assessments, and deals with check-ups and maintenance. 

Customer Needs 

Engineers needed to be flexible to work around the school’s needs, so that staff and pupils were not disturbed by the work. Weighing up security and privacy for the pupils is a necessity when dealing with contracts at an educational establishment. 

Solution and Benefits 

Ninety per cent of the work was done during half-terms and holidays, so the pupils and staff weren’t disturbed. Chubb supplied an IP-based bespoke CCTV solution, alongside an integrated intercom system, that is easy to operate and gives the school access to footage of the premises from any approved computer or Smartphone with Internet access.  

Chubb’s electronic access control system, covering the external entrances and high-value areas, helps the school address its most important challenge – the safety of pupils and teachers and the security of the premises. Pupils and staff have access cards without photographs attached to the sixth-form students’ cards to maintain their privacy. When integrated with physical access control methods such as barriers, gates and doors, electronic access control systems provide secure risk minimisation solutions and generate valuable data to drive business intelligence and insights.  

Chubb also supplies fire alarms and fire extinguishers to the school. Fire detection systems provide the earliest possible warning of a developing emergency. This gives vital minutes to help facilitate the safe and swift evacuation of staff and students from the premises.  

Testimonial 

Loreto’s Estates Manager, Martin Beckett, said, “Having worked with Chubb Fire & Security over the past six years, I would just like to say that I’m delighted with the work they have done for the school and how they go about their work ensuring all work is completed on time and to a high standard. I have found all the staff very professional and pleasant throughout, and they are very understanding of the school’s commitments and standards. In all matters and on all areas of work, I do not have any reservations in providing Chubb Fire & Security with a reference of the highest regard.” 

About Chubb Fire & Security:

Chubb is a leading provider of fire safety and security solutions and services for customers worldwide. It has been protecting people and assets for over 200 years. Today, its employees in 200+ branches in ~20 countries work to make the world safer, protect people and provide peace of mind. Its fire, security and monitoring services cover more than 1.0 million sites around the world. Chubb is a part of APi Group, a global, market-leading business services provider of safety and specialty services in over 500 locations worldwide. For more information, visit www.chubb.co.uk.

Contact details:

Chubb Fire & Security

Carla Sousa, Director Marketing and Communications

[email protected]