A SOUTHAMPTON school has just won Safe School status from the City Council and Hampshire Police.

Red Lodge, in Vermont Close, is the second school in the city to win the accreditation after the first, Newlands Junior School, received its award last June.

The scheme is run jointly by Southampton City Council and Hampshire Police and aims to link security issues into the curriculum and prompt pupils to take more responsibility for their schools.

Pupils, teachers, governors and the community worked together to meet the standards required for the award.

Red Lodge, which is a special school for children aged 11 to 16 with learning difficulties, introduced speed ramps, warning signs, security railings and handrails and extended the CCTV system to make the site safer for youngsters.

Dave Kitson, Southampton City Council's policy officer for sites and buildings, said: "We are delighted that Red Lodge School is to be awarded safe school status.

"The scheme encourages schools to look at measures to make their environments safer and involves pupils in coming up with these security improvements.

"I hope that Red Lodge's achievement will encourage other schools to seek a safer school environment."

Southampton's crime reduction officer PC Steve Postlethwaite, said: "The important thing about this scheme is that it teaches children in an early education environment the issues and importance of crime prevention.

"It is about developing children's awareness, making them ask basic security questions and understanding what you can and cannot do from a very early age.

"The safe school scheme is an excellent example of what can be achieved by the police working together with the local authority, schools and members of the community to make a safer place to live.

"We are delighted with the success of Red Lodge and hope other schools take up the scheme."

Children were presented with the safe school certificate at a special ceremony this week.