SCHOOL SAFETY TRUST MARK: Yes, schools may apply directly for the School Safety Trust Mark certification, provided they have a formal School Safety Management System already in place.

SCHOOL SAFETY TRUST MARK PLUS: No, schools cannot directly apply for the School Safety Trust Mark Plus certification.

School Safety Trust Mark Plus is designed to recognize institutions that have demonstrated mature, reliable, and sustained implementation of safety practices over time. As a prerequisite, schools must be able to provide a minimum of three years of historical data on relevant practices and key performance indicators (KPIs) to evidence the robustness and maturity of their School Safety Management System.

In line with global best practices and maturity-based certification models, schools are therefore strongly encouraged to:

                   ·           Begin with School Safety Trust Mark certification, if they already have a formal School Safety Management System in operation.

         ·      Maintain and continuously improve their system over a period of at least three years, systematically recording data, monitoring KPIs, and demonstrating consistent performance.

                ·          Once they have accumulated three years of credible historical data and are confident in the maturity of their management system, they may then apply for School Safety Trust Mark Plus certification.

The Trust Mark Health & Safety Readiness Assessment for School is an entry-level (Initial) certification pathway designed for institutions that are at the early stages of their school safety journey.

Key Features-

1.     INSTITUTION FOCUS- Intended for schools that are “just starting” to formalise their health and safety practices and want an initial, structured baseline assessment.

2.     VERIFICATION METHODOLOGY- The assessment is conducted through:

·       SSE (School Self Evaluation): The institution conducts a structured self-assessment against defined criteria.

·       EAR (External Assessment Report): An external review based primarily on documented evidence, providing an independent perspective on the school’s readiness.

3.     TYPICAL PROCESS- The end-to-end process generally follows these steps:

·       Register → SSE → EAR → Rating → Readiness Statement

4.     AUDIT VIEW- At this level, the safety management system may be in its infancy. The focus is on identifying existing measures, understanding gaps, and setting a baseline for future improvements.

5.     TURNAROUND TIME- The assessment is typically completed within 1–2 weeks, depending on the institution’s readiness and the timely submission of required information and documents.

6.     VALIDITY & RENEWAL-

·       Validity: The Readiness Statement is valid for 3 months.

·       Renewal: This is a one-time opportunity at the initial stage; schools are expected to progress to higher-level certification schemes after this readiness phase.

7.     OUTCOME- The primary outcome is a Readiness Statement, which reflects the institution’s current level of preparedness in health and safety.

8.     BEST SUITED FOR-

·       Schools seeking an initial safety baseline

·       Budget-conscious institutions- Available of FOC basis.

·    First-time schools that are new to structured health and safety assessments and wish to understand where they stand before pursuing higher-level certifications.

The Accreditation Commission for Conformity Assessment Bodies Private Limited (ACCAB) www.accab.org is a global accreditation and standards-publishing organisation. ACCAB develops and operates conformity assessment schemes for certification bodies and is the exclusive copyright owner of the following standards:

Safe School Standard – SS 10000:2025
International Health & Safety Standard for Schools, Colleges, Universities, and Other Educational Institutions

In Loco Parentis Standard – IL 10000:2025
IN LOCO PARENTIS Quality, Health & Safety Standard for Early Education & Child Care Centres

ACCAB has granted exclusive rights to School Safety Assurance International (SSAI) to use these standards for the development and operation of audit, assessment, and certification schemes for schools and early education & child care centres.

School Safety Assurance International (SSAI) operates on a robust, extensively tested, and scalable SaaS platform built using proven, industry-standard technologies. The platform is designed for high availability, resilience, and secure access, enabling institutions across geographies to rely on SSAI for mission-critical school safety and governance functions.

To reinforce its credibility and align with globally recognized best practices, SSAI’s management systems are certified to the following international standards:

·       ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management System: Demonstrates SSAI’s commitment to consistent service quality, continual improvement, and customer satisfaction.

·       ISO 27001:2022 – Information Security Management System: Confirms that SSAI has a systematic and risk-based approach to protecting information assets, ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data.

·       GDPR-Aligned Privacy Management Practices: SSAI’s privacy framework is designed to align with the principles of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), underscoring its commitment to responsible handling of personal data, transparency, and data subject rights.

Through this combination of strong technological foundations, internationally recognised certifications, and rigorous governance, SSAI provides a high level of assurance regarding the reliability, security, and continuity of its services for schools and early education and child care centres worldwide.

School Safety Assurance International (SSAI) was established by a senior expert in governance, risk, and compliance with extensive experience in educational and safety management systems. The founder has authored reference works on school safety and has been actively involved in mentoring assessors, technical specialists, and industry professionals in the field.

SSAI is supported by a multidisciplinary team of professionals dedicated to advancing global standards in school safety. The team brings together extensive experience from:

·       Education management and school administration

·       Risk assessment and compliance

·       Child development and child psychology

·       Occupational health and safety

·       Security and emergency preparedness

·       Technology and systems innovation.

Each team member contributes specialized expertise and a strong commitment to integrity, governance, and professional excellence.

Collectively, SSAI’s leadership and advisory teams ensure that the organization remains at the forefront of designing, implementing, and validating robust safety frameworks that build trust and confidence among educational institutions, parents, communities, and regulatory bodies worldwide.