HEADTEACHER Maurice Hicks has said that plans to install security fencing and gates around the perimeter of Holyrood Community School in Chard will not make it look like a prison camp.

Somerset County Council want to put up the 2.4-metre high fencing around the school in Zembard Lane and Furnham Road in order to deter trespassers during the day and night.

But Mr Hicks said: "We have taken great efforts to look at the fencing and we are happy that what we intend to install will be unobtrusive and won't harm the environmental appearance of the school.

"It is a sad sign of the times that we have to put up fencing, but what we have in mind won't make the school look like a prison camp.

"We would obviously rather be spending the money on equipment and staffing, but the fencing is necessary because we have been aware for sometime of the potential of a security problem.

"We need to protect the school at night and ensure the children's safety during the day."

Mr Hicks said people did use the school site as a shortcut which in itself did pose possible problems.

"I'd like to make it clear that we haven't had any such incidents, but what we plan to do is to make sure it never happens in the future," he said. "We are being cautious."

The police have been involved in the fencing scheme, while parents have already said that security at the school is a big concern for them.

Mr Hicks said: "We use an independent agency to survey parents every now and again and one we did back in January showed that security issues was their biggest concern."

The school has been in talks with County Hall about security for the past couple of years, but the results of the parent survey seemed to endorse the fencing scheme.

What do you think about the security measures expected to implemented at Holyrood School? Send us your comments by using the links below.