PA & Emergency Lockdown System for Parks Primary School

Rated by Ofsted as ‘Outstanding’, this Leicester primary school has been secured using the latest audio-over-IP technology in its public address and emergency lockdown system.

Located within a lively and vibrant area of Leicester, Parks Primary School has achieved its ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rating due to the very highest standards of education and care for the welfare and safety of its pupils and staff.

The school has recently invested in a new through-campus audio and security system to provide improved communication and security for all, using the very latest audio-over-IP technology for its brand new combined public address and emergency lockdown system.

Designed to provide clear, effective, day-to-day communication, as well as to ensure the safety of pupils and staff at all times, the new system was specified and installed by Midland Communications using a combination of analogue and audio-over-IP technology from ISCVE supporting member CIE.

In response to increased risks of attacks and intruders within schools and education campuses, many UK schools are now following local education authority and government recommendations to further improve security strategies, including the adoption of Emergency Lockdown Procedures.

Parks Primary School in Leicester called upon audio system experts Midland Communications to specify and install a through-school system which meets their needs for day-to-day public address, as well as providing emergency communication systems to support their Lockdown Procedures.

The choice of audio signal distribution takes into account the school’s two separate buildings, plus outdoor learning zone.

In order to distribute messaging to three remote zones, the installed system employs the latest audio-over-IP technology, allowing recorded and live messaging to be broadcast over standard Ethernet cabling infrastructure.

The dual-purpose public address / school lockdown system merges the simplicity and efficiency of conventional 100v line distributed audio with the latest audio-over-IP technology.

The installation features a communications ‘hub’ in the main reception area from where it is possible to communicate with any of the three school zones either separately or collectively via pre-recorded messages or live broadcasts.

This fully integrated system allows for complete zone control and broadcasting for public address, class change and emergency messages and tones should the school emergency lockdown procedures be triggered.

What is a School Lock-Down System?

Differentiating between a School Lockdown Procedure and a School Lockdown System is key to understanding the requirements necessary for a cohesive, effective solution.

Where a Lockdown Procedure is defined as an established series of actions taken, a Lockdown System incorporates those actions and a variety of resources, technology and announcements used throughout the building, to greatly improve communication and access control measures are followed through.

If you’d like to find out more about School Lockdown Systems or PA systems from an ISCVE member or supporting member you can email info@isce.org.uk, visit our members or supporting members directory or visit;