Cardiff Council has launched new guidance to help schools and educational settings in the city stay as safe as possible for pupils and staff. Titled the Weapons in Schools and Educational Settings Guidance, it’s the first of its kind in Wales and has been praised by both the Welsh Government and the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales.
Developed in response to calls from headteachers and through consultation with young people, the guidance aims to reduce risk, prevent harm, and reassure families that schools are secure and supportive places to learn. It was created in partnership with a wide range of organisations, including South Wales Police, governors, trade unions, youth services and violence prevention experts.
The new guidance sets out a clear and consistent approach for schools to use if they have concerns about weapons being brought to school. However, its primary focus is on providing early support and creating positive change. It acknowledges the complex reasons a young person might carry a weapon and encourages schools to work closely with families and other services to ensure the right support is in place.
The guidance is built around three core goals:
- Keeping all children and staff safe.
- Supporting all children to remain in education.
- Helping schools prevent children from possessing weapons.
It is not a strict rulebook but rather a set of helpful steps to guide schools in difficult situations. It encourages staff to use their professional judgment to put safety first while also being fair and understanding.
As part of this initiative, schools have appointed Violence Prevention Leads, senior staff members who have received specialist, scenario-based training. This training is trauma-informed and individualised, helping staff understand the wider context behind a young person’s behaviour so they can respond with both care and authority.
The guidance also includes:
- Safe search procedures that are discreet, trauma-informed and legally compliant.
- Incident Review Meetings to ensure a calm and consistent response when a weapon is found.
- Wellbeing support for both staff and pupils.
- Clear recording and reporting tools to ensure transparency.
Cardiff’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry, said the council will be writing to parents to explain the new guidance and how it will be used. “We want parents to feel fully informed and involved,” she stated.
Cllr Merry also addressed potential anxieties about searches, clarifying that they will not be a daily routine. “Searches would only happen when there’s a genuine concern that a child may be carrying a weapon,” she explained. When a search is necessary, it will be conducted safely, respectfully, and in private by two trained staff members, often using a handheld scanner or “wand” to avoid physical contact.
The new weapons guidance is part of a broader set of actions Cardiff Council is taking, which includes:
- The Respect Campaign, which reminds everyone that keeping schools safe is a shared responsibility.
- Lockdown rehearsals to help schools prepare for emergencies.
- Training and workshops for school staff, governors and youth workers.
- Preventative education through the Curriculum for Wales.
This initiative is a key part of Cardiff’s vision as a Child Friendly City and aligns with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) by placing young people at the heart of all decisions.
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